The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER—Alcohol and bravado appear to be fuelling a disturbing trend of one-punch attacks that have left three people dead, Vancouver police say.
At least 10 people this year have fallen to the ground unconscious after being hit once in the head, Vancouver police spokesman Cst. Brian Montague told a news conference yesterday.
Three of the people who have died from their injuries include a 60-year-old man who was punched in front of a bar on a downtown street in August.
One-punch attacks aren’t new in Vancouver but Montague said officers have been seeing an increasing number recently, particularly in places where people are drinking.
Minor disputes typically are involved and result in serious injuries, he noted.
“It’s something that’s disturbing to us; something that we feel is preventable,” Montague said.
“In many cases, these are victims who were sucker-punched and not involved in any sort of consensual fight.”
That was the case on Oct. 25, when a 34-year-old Richmond resident was sucker-punched as he and his wife walked past two groups of men who were arguing about a limousine in front of a bar in Vancouver’s entertainment district.
Many of the suspects in such punching cases are men who have come into Vancouver from other municipalities—sometimes looking for a fight, Montague noted.
“It’s other young men who have generally had a little bit too much to drink and little bit too much bravado, who aren’t thinking clearly and don’t realize that their actions have serious consequences.”
Many of the victims have been innocent bystanders so it’s difficult to say how people can protect themselves, Montague conceded.
Police are focusing on warning the perpetrators.
“Their lives will be forever changed because we will arrest them and they will find themselves in court,” Montague warned.
“Our plea is to those making the conscious decision to make their hand into a fist and take a swing,” he added.
“We really want them to think twice before they do that.”
