Update

One man is in custody and two men are recovering in hospital following two overnight hammer attacks.

Around 10:30 p.m., a 67-year-old Vancouver man was walking on the seawall in the area of Quebec Street at Terminal Avenue. An unknown man approached him from behind and hit him in the head with a hammer, which knocked him to the ground. The victim was struck again in the head and on the arm before a passerby came to his aid, and the suspect walked off. The victim was taken to hospital for the treatment of a broken arm and lacerations to the head.

Shortly before 11 p.m., a second man was attacked at Main and East Hastings Street. A 49-year-old Vancouver man was also hit in the head with a hammer, knocked to the ground and rendered unconscious. He was attended to by paramedics and rushed to the hospital in critical, but stable condition.

The suspect boarded a southbound bus and was located by police a short time later at Main Street and Terminal Avenue. As police attempted to question him, the suspect ran to the nearby McDonald’s Restaurant where he hid in the washroom. He was subsequently taken into custody without incident.

The motive for the attack is unknown at this time. Police will be requesting charges for two counts of aggravated assault against a 27-year-old Vancouver man.

Anyone with information about this incident, who has not yet spoken to police, is asked to contact the VPD at (604) 717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.