A woman is dead and multiple people were taken to hospital following an apparently random stabbing spree in a busy area of North Vancouver afternoon.
It happened around 1:45 p.m. within and outside the Lynn Valley Library, which anchors the Lynn Valley Village shopping area that was packed with weekend shoppers.
One suspect was arrested, and police said the attacker appeared to be acting alone.
Video from the scene appeared to show a man injuring himself with a knife before being taken into police custody.
Witnesses said the suspect began stabbing people inside the library before moving outside.
“I was in the library community room and just outside, suddenly, we hear yelling and everyone stopped and stared, everyone started running out the side door,” witness Mary Craver, who was attending a book sale at the time, said.
“I just started running too. We ran all the way to the mall.”
Sgt. Frank Jang with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said the suspect was alive, but would not speak to the man’s injuries.
The suspect was both known to police and had a criminal record, he added, however his motive remains unknown
Obviously the question is why did this happen. We believe we know the who, the what and the when. It is our job now to determine the why,” he said.
