Vancouver police are investigating a stabbing outside a liquor store that left a man with serious injuries.
Police said the incident happened around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday in Olympic Village outside the Legacy Liquor store on Manitoba Street when a security guard confronted a group of suspected shoplifters as they were leaving.
A 63-year-old man tried to step in to help, police said, but he was then stabbed by one of the suspects.
“I’m not a doctor but it was described to me as an arterial bleed,” Sgt. Steve Addison with the Vancouver Police Department told Global News.
“Blood gushing out of his wrist or his arm. Our officers applied a tourniquet to slow the bleeding. That allowed EHS to arrive and take the victim to the hospital where he received further treatment.”
Four people were arrested near Granville and Robson streets early Sunday morning, all between the ages of 16 and 21.
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Police said they have since been released on bail, however, police said it is hoped they will face criminal charges once their investigation is complete.
On Monday, the BC Prosecution Service said it has received a report to Crown Counsel from the Vancouver Police Department and the matter is being reviewed for a charge assessment.
“We held the suspects in custody while Crown reviewed the matter, and were informed late Sunday afternoon that charges would not be laid,” Vancouver police said in a statement on Monday.
“We were therefore obligated to release the suspects from custody. The suspects were all released by a sergeant in our jail and they were all issued undertakings to appear in court at a later date.”
Police said those undertakings include numerous conditions the suspects are required to obey and if they violate those conditions they will be subject to arrest and further charges.
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