The death of a 92-year-old Chinatown resident who police say was assaulted in a Downtown Eastside alley last month is renewing concerns over the safety of seniors in the Vancouver neighbourhood. Read More
Paramedics found a senior victim in medical distress on the afternoon of March 18 in a lane behind the Carnegie Community Centre at Main and Hastings streets.
Paramedics found a senior victim in medical distress on the afternoon of March 18 in a lane behind the Carnegie Community Centre at Main and Hastings streets.
Article content
The death of a 92-year-old Chinatown resident who police say was assaulted in a Downtown Eastside alley last month is renewing concerns over the safety of seniors in the Vancouver neighbourhood.
Article content
Article content
Sarah Beley, executive director of the local non-profit Working Gear, said she is only now beginning to fully acknowledge the extent of the violence occurring.
Article content
“As social-service providers in the DTES, we’ve often been protective or defensive when it comes to saying our community is unsafe, not wanting to add to the stigma,” explained Beley.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
“But I’ve seen violent attacks right outside my building, witnessed people die in broad daylight with dozens of people around, and even been caught in an altercation where I was pepper-sprayed. It’s hard to deny that things are increasingly unsafe.”
Article content
Sunrise
Article content
Beley expressed sadness over what she described as a lack of meaningful action to protect seniors in Chinatown.
Article content
“We need to do better,” she told Postmedia News.
Article content
Article content
Paramedics found the senior victim in medical distress on the afternoon of March 18 in a lane behind the Carnegie Community Centre at the corner of Main and Hastings streets.
Article content
The 92-year-old had reportedly been out with his wife and daughter when he told them he was going to use the washroom. When he didn’t return, they went searching for him, unaware he was in the alley, police said. They later received a call from the hospital.
Article content
The man died two weeks later on March 31 and police were notified the next day, according to Vancouver police Sgt. Tania Visintin.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
“We have confirmed the victim in this case was assaulted by multiple people prior to his death,” said Visintin. “Our investigation is focused on if those assaults contributed to his death.”
Article content
Stories You May Like
-
Chinatown resident, 92, dies in hospital weeks after being assaulted by several people
-
ABC Vancouver’s vision for the Downtown Eastside is taking shape, but not everyone is on board
-
Advertisement embed-more-topic
Story continues below
Article content
Visintin said the homicide unit has identified three suspects, but no arrests have been made.
Article content
Asked Friday why health officials didn’t notify police sooner, Visintin said: “His injuries at the time appeared to be the result of medical distress. I can’t speak to the medical staff who assessed him.”
Article content
She wouldn’t identify which hospital the man was taken to, citing privacy reasons.
Article content
Vancouver police didn’t respond to Postmedia News’s followup questions, including when or how it was determined that the man had been assaulted.
Article content
he incident has drawn attention to safety issues faced by seniors in the area, with groups pointing to increasing incidents of harassment and property crime in the neighbourhood.
Article content
Chris Livingston, executive director of Aboriginal Front Door, located at 384 Main St., said he’s witnessed seniors in the neighbourhood routinely subjected to what he described as unprovoked aggression and violence.