Man charged after "random" New Year's Eve machete attacks on Granville Street

The Vancouver Police are asking for additional witnesses and victims to come forward following a series of random New Year’s Eve machete attacks on Granville Street.

Officers arrested the suspect near Granville and Nelson streets on December 31 around 7 pm after a 52-year-old man was struck in the head by a man wielding a machete. The victim walked into a nearby restaurant following the attack and witnesses called police.

Following the first attack, VPD has since learned of two additional incidents. A 26-year-old homeless man was left with facial injuries after being assaulted around 6 pm on New Year’s Eve near Granville and Nelson.

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VPD says a 29-year-old homeless man managed to escape “serious injury” after being assaulted outside of the Canadian Tire located at Cambie and 7th Avenue around 7 pm on Christmas Eve.

Sergeant Steve Addison with the police department says the “attacks appear to have been completely unprovoked.”

“We believe there is at least one more victim, and possibly more, who have not yet come forward.”

In a statement, VPD says 33-year-old Cruz Joseph has since been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of assault bodily harm, robbery, and possession of a dangerous weapon for the December 31 incident. The other attacks continue to be investigated by police.

“These incidents all occurred in busy places and we believe there are many people who either saw what happened or have information that can help investigators,” stated Addison.

“We’d like those people to give us a call and tell us what they know.”

Anyone with information is asked to call VPD’s Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.