The Comox Valley RCMP is asking for the public’s help to locate a suspect after a 89-year-old man was attacked with machete in downtown Courtenay.
The attack occurred Wednesday morning at around 4:15 a.m in the 400-block of 5th Street. The victim was inside his vehicle when he was approached by a man on a bicycle who asked him for a cigarette.
The victim told the man that he did not have any cigarettes before the man assaulted him with what appeared to be a machete.
The victim drove himself to the Comox Valley RCMP detachment to report the attack. He
suffered multiple wounds to his facial area and was taken to hospital.
The suspect has been described as being young, possibly in his 20s with a dark complexion, wearing something on his head.
“At this point in the investigation, the attack appears to be completely unprovoked,” said Const. Monika Terragni, media relations officer for the Comox Valley RCMP.
“Investigators have been scouring the area for evidence but we are looking for anyone who may have seen the suspect or for anyone with surveillance or dashcam footage during the early morning hours downtown,” she added.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321 and refer to file 2019-11772. Additionally, you can send video footage directly to the Comox Valley RCMP at comoxvalleyrcmp@rcmp-grc.gc.ca and an investigator will follow up.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
