92-year-old man dies after assault by multiple people in Vancouver’s DTES

Vancouver police are investigating the death of a 92-year-old man who was found injured in a Downtown Eastside alley on March 18.

Police said the victim, a Chinatown resident, was found in medical distress that afternoon in a lane behind the Carnegie Community Centre, near Main and East Hastings. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance for medical treatment and died in the hospital on March 31.

Police said the 92-year-old victim told his family he was going to use the washroom at the Carnegie Centre.

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When he didn’t return after 20 minutes, they went looking for him, unaware he had ended up in the alley.

Two hours later, they received a call from the hospital.

“We have confirmed the victim in this case was assaulted by multiple people prior to his death,” Const. Tania Visintin with the Vancouver police said in a statement.

“Our investigation is focused on if those assaults contributed to his death.”

Investigators have identified several suspects, but no one has been arrested.

“We share the community’s grief over this loss of life and we understand there are many questions,” Visintin added. “Information about this death will undoubtedly impact peoples’ sense of safety and community in Chinatown. Although it will take time, we are committed to finding all of the answers.”

Anyone with information that may assist in this investigation is asked to call the Vancouver police homicide unit at 604-717-2500.