This is the horrifying moment an innocent stranger was knocked to the ground by a sucker punch in a ‘completely unprovoked’ attack in Vancouver.
Harrowing video shows how the 28-year-old victim was attacked while walking down a busy street near the Hudson’s Bay department store last Thursday.
In a split second a figure crouched on the sidewalk springs out and punches him , knocking him over before darting off.
As the attacker jogs off, bystanders are left confused, watching on as the victim pulls themselves to their feet.
The victim was left with facial injuries from the attack, and police say they were walking alone on W. Georgia Street when the instigator struck.
Authorities are now appealing for information and witnesses after what they say was a ‘completely unprovoked and violent sucker punch on a total stranger’.
In footage shared by police, the man is seen lunging for the victim in a busy area
From another angle, the victim is seen flat out on his back after the vicious assault
Footage showed the victim lying on the floor as bystanders checked in on him
Vancouver Police Department shared unsettling footage of the attack, which took place at 10:04pm on November 28.
The victim was ‘walking alone’ near Hudson’s Bay when a stranger ‘lunged at him for no apparent reason, struck him in the face, and knocked him to the ground’.
Police confirmed that despite sustaining injuries, the victim did not need to go to hospital.
The attack occurred close to a bus stop near West Georgia and Seymour Street, with more than a dozen people standing nearby, police reported.
Several bystanders helped the victim after he was knocked to the ground, while others flagged down VPD officers.
But some left before speaking to police, leading to a call for more witnesses to come forward.
Sergeant Steve Addison said in a statement on Tuesday: ‘Given this level of random violence, we have serious concerns that another innocent person could be assaulted and badly injured by this suspect.
‘It’s imperative that we work quickly to gather all evidence from eyewitnesses and take this person into custody as soon as possible.’
The suspect, a man who appears to be in his 20s and was wearing dark pants with a checkered shirt, ran toward Granville Street immediately after the assault, police said.
The 28-year-old victim was walking alone when the attacker struck late on November 28
Police say the attack appeared entirely unprovoked
‘As our investigation continues, we’d like to speak to anyone who was present in the moments prior to the assault, as well as those who helped the victim after he was attacked,’ Sergeant Addison added.
‘These eyewitnesses may have important information about the suspect’s behavior and state of mind at the time of the assault.’
Witnesses, and anyone who can identify the suspect, are asked to call the Vancouver Police Department at 604-717-4022.
A report on crime statistics for Vancouver showed violent crime increased 1.9 per cent from 2022 to 2023.
As many as 6,256 instances were recorded in 2023, up from 6,140 in 2022.
Increased reporting of crime does not necessarily indicate higher prevalence.
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