Two people were sent to hospital after another stabbing incident on Columbia Street in downtown New Westminster - this time the result of a brawl involving nine people, say police.
Police, paramedics and firefighters responded just before 10 p.m. to a report of a stabbing at Columbia Street and Fourth Street, just steps from the entrance of the Columbia SkyTrain station.
Police said in a news release that when officers arrived on scene, they assisted four people who had been assaulted, including two who had been stabbed. The other individuals that had been part of the fight had fled the scene prior to police arrival.
“We are still in the early stages of determining what led up to this incident happening, however, it appears that it was between two groups that met inside Westminster Pier Park,” said Sgt. Sanjay Kumar, in a statement. “The victims are in stable condition, and our officers continue to search for video surveillance, speak to witnesses, and analyze the scene for any forensic evidence.”
The Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service and Metro Vancouver Transit Police provided assistance in searching for evidence.
Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying two people believed to be involved in this incident. The first person is described as a male in his late teens, with a fuzzy black and red jacket, standing approximately five-foot-eight, with a medium build. The second person is described as an teenage female with long brown hair, a brown beanie, black jacket, black pants, and carrying a black backpack.
Police closed the westbound lanes of Columbia at Fourth as witnesses were being interviewed.
This is at least the fourth stabbing in the area around the area of Columbia Street in just over six months.
On May 29, a man suffered life-threatening injuries after being stabbed outside of the entrance to the Columbia SkyTrain station. One man has been charged in this case.
Then in early August, another man was seriously injured after being stabbed in an early morning incident on Columbia.
In November, 51-year-old Robert Powshuk died after being stabbed. He was found bleeding after stumbling into a Columbia Street coffee shop.
