A Courtenay man has died after an assault in downtown Courtenay on Tuesday.
Sean Parker, 46, died at Victoria General Hospital, said sister Natalie Parker.
Comox Valley RCMP officers responded to a report of an assault on the 350-block of 6th Street in Courtenay at about 1:25 p.m. on Tuesday and found a man unconscious on the sidewalk. He was taken to hospital by ambulance with life-threatening injuries.
“The investigation that began as a serious assault is now a homicide after the victim passed away in hospital yesterday afternoon,” Comox Valley RCMP Const. Monika Terragni said Thursday.
Police said they identified a person of interest in the assault on Tuesday afternoon.
The victim and the suspect were at the Courtenay library shortly before getting into an altercation that resulted in the victim suffering a serious head injury, said Staff Sgt. Glen Breckon of the Comox Valley RCMP’s major crime unit.
Breckon, who described the area on 6th street as busy, put a call out for witnesses to the dispute at the library, or anyone with video from around the time of the assault.
“Investigators have spoken with several witnesses. However, we believe there are more witnesses out there who have not yet come forward,” said Breckon.
Anyone with related information is asked to call Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321 and refer to file number 2019-17839.
Video footage can be sent directly to the Comox Valley RCMP at comoxvalleyrcmp@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or go online at comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca.
