West Vancouver homicide victim believed to be former doctor: sources

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was deployed to West Vancouver Tuesday after city police closed off the area for hours.

Global News has learned there was a stabbing in the underground parkade of the building on Argyle Avenue and West 21st Street around 5 p.m.

Resident Liam Goddard lives in the building and says his mother called 911 after she spoke to a distressed woman who came up the stairs.

1:28 IHIT investigating West Vancouver homicide in apartment building

“A lady came upstairs and was like ‘help me help me.’ And then my mom called the police and they arrived and yeah, all the officers showed up,” Goddard told Global News from the street outside his building.

Global News has learned the victim is Dr. Francis Amir Este, a former urologist who practiced in Port Coquitlam but is now listed as no longer practicing.

Records confirm he owned a unit in the building with his mother and it’s believed she lived there.

Este and his mother were involved in a high-profile real estate case in 2017.

Police taped off the entrance to the underground parking area Tuesday and residents were told to stay away for a number of hours.

B.C. Emergency Health Services confirmed to Global News it did not take anyone to the hospital but was called to the scene just after 2 p.m.

Tess Koehle also lives across the street from the scene and says she was told to stay home for a long while on Tuesday.

“They have limited the police tape area just now. Only covering the entrance and exit to the underground of 2135 Argyle Avenue, Koehle told Global News.

“We at 2120 Argyle have been on lockdown since approximately 5 p.m. but now am free to move about.”

The motive behind the killing remains unknown at this time.

IHIT is asking anyone with information about the investigation to call 1-877-551-4448 or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

-with files from Christa Dao