Two seniors attacked in Vancouver
Posted May 26, 2016 8:05 pm.
Last Updated May 27, 2016 6:53 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) -Two attacks on two seniors on Vancouver’s west side on Thursday have police hunting for a suspect or suspects.
The VPD says just before noon, an 84-year-old woman was sitting on her walker on Broadway near Ash when a stranger approached, kicked her off her seat and walked away.
The woman suffered a broken elbow.
The second assault happened a couple of hours later near Broadway and Granville. A 70-year-old woman in a wheelchair was approached by a man who punched her once in the face and walked off. She suffered minor injuries.
Along Broadway Friday morning, the attacks have angered many people.
“It’s awful, but I guess it happens all over,” one man tells NEWS 1130.
“It’s pretty low,” agrees a nearby security guard. “It’s Vancouver, so I guess you have to expect different kinds of classes of people. You’ve got low people and then you’ve got scum even below that.”
Constable Brian Montague says there are reasons to believe whoever did this is dealing with mental health problems.
“If I was to speculate, it’s that we’re dealing with someone with potentially mental health problems or drug addictions issues,” says Montague. “If that’s the case, it’s likely someone we’ve dealt with in the past.”
Police are now trying to track down video footage of the attacks or the person responsible.
“Why would someone kick an 84 year old woman sitting on a walker for no apparent reason and then just hours later, possibly the same person, punch a 70 year old woman who’s sitting in a wheelchair? There doesn’t seem to be a real motive here for the attacks, other than someone lashing out,” says Montague.
The 84 year old woman who suffered a broken elbow in the attacks is expected to be released from hospital soon.
Investigators believe both attacks could have been committed by the same person. The suspect is described as a white man in his 20s, 5’10” tall with a medium build and full beard. He was wearing a dark navy top, navy baseball hat and white shoes.
If you saw what happened, you’re asked to call the police.
