A man who was bleeding from his face approached Vancouver Police officers in the Downtown Eastside after an alleged stranger attack.
Police shared the news on X, saying the arrest was made as part of its Task Force Barrage.
According to the Vancouver Police Department, the victim is a 50-year-old man. The incident occurred on Tuesday, just after noon, and the news has led to quite a reaction from folks responding to the X post.
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After the attack, the victim approached police near Main and Hastings and was bleeding from his face.
He reported that he was struck in the face with a small axe and said he had his sunglasses stolen. Fortunately, the victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers were able to locate and arrest the suspect nearby quickly.
VPD shared that the suspect is Steven Henry Hall, a 30-year-old man known to police with prior charges. According to court records, someone with the same name has previous charges including uttering threats, mischief, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, breach of probation, and others.
In this incident, Hall has been charged with robbery and breach of probation.
These types of stranger attacks, where a repeat offender is the suspect, usually spark conversations about the justice system in B.C., and this incident is no exception.
What’s the point of the criminal justice system when all you do is catch and release the violent men so they can terrorise and attack us as much as they want?
— Bad Hijabi 🇨🇦🍁 (@RukhsanaSukhan) May 14, 2025
Others were surprised that the list of charges didn’t include assault or attempted murder.
This isn’t the first stranger attack in Vancouver this year that has had brutal results involving an individual being targeted. Last month, we shared the story of a Toronto woman visiting Vancouver who believed that a man was trying to kill her. The suspect in that incident was released from custody.
It’s not just Vancouver. Last week, a woman walking with her baby in a stroller was the victim of a stranger attack in New Westminster.
#VPDNews: Just before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, #TaskForceBarrage officers on foot patrol were approached near E. Hastings and Main Street by a 50-year-old man bleeding from his face.
He reported being struck with a small axe by a stranger, who then stole his sunglasses. Fortunately,… pic.twitter.com/m9xSpBUUk5
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) May 14, 2025
We’ve asked the VPD if Hall has been released.