Vancouver police have issued a public warning following two apparently random attacks in Stanley Park that left one man dead and another seriously hurt.
“While there is no evidence to directly link these two serious incidents, we cannot confirm the events are not related,” said Cst. Jason Doucette. “In the absence of suspect information and motive, we feel it’s necessary to issue a public warning to alert people who may be in Stanley Park at night to use extra caution.”
Police said Tuesday the latest incident happened Feb. 1 when 61-year-old Lubo Kunik was stabbed to death as he walked by himself on the Stanley Park seawall.
Just before 11 p.m. that day, Kunik’s body was discovered by a man walking his dog on the seawall between Second and Third Beach. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kunik’s death followed an incident just after 2 a.m. on Nov. 16 when a person driving past the north parking lot of Brockton Oval spotted an 82-year-old man alone in his car in distress.
Officers arrived to find the man was seriously injured. The victim remains in hospital.
Detectives from the major crime section have been investigating for the past three months, but have not yet been able to identify a suspect or motive. The attack appears to be random.
In the death of Kunik, detectives also have not yet identified a suspect or motive and the attack also appears to be random.
A person of interest questioned on the night of the homicide was later released, police said.
Police say that anyone in Stanley Park at night witnessing suspicious behaviour should call 911 immediately.
