Stabbing in downtown Vancouver sends 2 victims to hospital
Stretch of Cambie Street was closed as police investigated a stabbing, but reopened ahead of evening rush hour
Vancouver police say a 46-year-old man is in custody after an alleged stabbing in the city's downtown core on Wednesday afternoon.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said in a statement that they responded to calls of a man chasing people with a knife around the 800 block of Cambie Street just before noon PT.
Two people received first aid from paramedics at the scene and were taken to hospital, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services spokesperson Brian Twaites.
Police had initially only reported one victim of the stabbing, and stated that their injuries were serious but not life-threatening.
A stretch of Cambie Street was closed for several hours early Wednesday afternoon, but traffic was moving again in time for evening rush hour.
A CBC News reporter at the scene described at least three separate areas taped off by police between Smithe Street and Robson Street, which a VPD officer said were connected to the same investigation.
Ron Festejo, who works nearby, described the scene to CBC News.
"It's quite shocking," Festejo said. "I saw lots of people just all of a sudden scrambling to run ... away from the person who was doing this.
"The police were on location within minutes and they apprehended the guy quite quickly."
VPD's Major Crime Section is now investigating the stabbing, and is asking for anyone with more information on the case to contact them.
With files from David P. Ball, Rafferty Baker and Yvette Brend