Transit police are asking for the public’s help identifying the suspect in an apparent hate crime where two men were assaulted and harassed while riding the SkyTrain.
At about 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 28, two young men boarded the SkyTrain at Waterfront Station. As they stepped onto the train, another man kicked the foot of one of the young men and then left his seat and aggressively approached him.
“The victim crouched down in fear as the suspect raised his hand as if to hit him, while yelling obscenities and homophobic insults,” Transit police said in a press release.
“An unidentified passenger pulled the suspect away from the victim while the victim’s husband pushed the yellow emergency strip on the train,” the press release reads. “As the suspect again became aggressive toward the victim, his husband grabbed him and pulled him away. The suspect then hit the husband in the face, knocking off his glasses.”
As the train pulled into Granville SkyTrain Station, the suspect tried to kick one of the men in the stomach and then stepped off the train and spat in the other man’s face. He continued to shout profanities and homophobic insults at the couple as he walked away.
The two victims were taken to hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and released.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian male, 30 to 40 years old, 6’3” to 6’4” tall with a strong build, but not muscular, several days of stubble growth on a longer face. He was wearing red Nike shoes, a black baseball hat, dark hooded jacket and black shorts.
Transit police investigators have been in contact with the B.C. Hate Crimes Unit as the investigation has unfolded.
Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect, or who witnessed this incident, is asked to contact the Metro Vancouver Police tip line at 604-516-7419, or by text message at 87-77-77, and reference file #2018-17964.
@JessicaEKerr
