Vancouver Police responded to stabbings in Yaletown over the weekend with Tactical Emergency Medical Services, TEMS, being delivered by VPD officers to save the lives of four victims.

Just before 2:30 a.m., police responded to a call of a large group of men fighting in the area of Hamilton and Helmcken streets. The group of close to 20 men fighting were associated to two separate gangs from Metro Vancouver. The gangsters had an altercation inside a Yaletown establishment which spilled onto the street.

Four men were suffering from stab wounds and sent to hospital where one remains in serious condition. Officers from the VPD Emergency Response Team applied emergency medical services to the wounded people until members from the BC Ambulance Service and Vancouver Fire rescue Services attended.

Seven people were arrested and transported to the Vancouver Jail but have been released with no charges. This investigation is ongoing and charges are anticipated.

“Without the quick action and officers being trained in TEMS this assault may have ended up being a homicide,” says Sergeant Aaron Roed, VPD. “There is no question that trained TEMS officers played a role in saving multiple lives.”

Detectives from the VPD Major Crime Section are requesting anyone who has cellphone video or is a witness to the violent assault to contact investigators.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the VPD’s Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.