Victoria police have arrested one man, but are still searching for two others, who they believe are connected to a double-stabbing last week.
The stabbing happened near a duplex in the 2500-block of Vancouver Street June 23 when a fight broke out.
Two men were wounded and a 38-year-old Victoria man was rushed to Victoria General Hospital with a severe stab wound to his chest, which required emergency surgery. He remains in a coma.
A 35-year-old man was taken to Royal Jubilee Hospital with a less-serious stab wound to his back. He was later released.
Witnesses to a fight called 911 shortly before 6 p.m. When police arrived, they arrested numerous people and brought them to the police department for questioning.
Officers arrested a 20-year-old Victoria man Sunday morning at a residence in the 2500-block of Dowler Place. Police are recommending charges of aggravated assault against the man. He was found in possession of crack-cocaine and $1,000 cash and could also be charged with possession and trafficking.
“We’re still looking for two people of interest,” said Const. Mike Russell, a VicPD spokesperson.
He didn’t say what the motive was in the attack, but that it was a targeted incident.
The double-stabbing bring the tally of such attacks in Victoria and Esquimalt to eight this year, plus another knife attack where a woman’s hand was slashed.
Russell said he wasn’t aware of an increase in knife attacks over last year, but said the number is a concern to officers.
“We’re very cognisant there are weapons on the street and we’re doing whatever we can to make sure they’re taken out of circulation.”
A March incident in Esquimalt, and two incidents a day apart in April, involved youth wielding knives. This latest incident, with a 20-year-old man arrested, has police concerned about young people carrying knives.
“With people described as youth, we do have our youth investigators who assist us so much in these investigations,” Russell said. “They know all the players, they know everybody in town and they work really with our detectives, gathering that intelligence and getting it forwarded on.”
Anyone with information about the assault can call Det. Phil Richmond at 250-995-7281 or phil.richmond@vicpd.ca, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at www.victoriacrimestoppers.com.
ecardone@vicnews.com