Friday, March 29, 2024

Family identifies and shares photos of 89-year-old attacked on Vancouver Island

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A GoFundMe has been created to support the recovery costs of an 89-year-old man who was the victim of a vicious, unprovoked attack in Courtenay.

89-year-old Robert Plumb was inside his vehicle, delivering newspapers – as he did for 15 years with his late wife – at around 4:15 a.m in the 400-block of 5th Street on Wednesday, July 31st.

See also: Suspect sought after 89-year-old man attacked with machete in downtown Courtenay

That is when he was approached by a man on a bicycle who asked him for a cigarette.

When Plumb told the man that he did not have any cigarettes, the suspect allegedly assaulted him with what appeared to be a machete.

Plumb then 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.

“It’s absolutely unreal…”

The description in the GoFundMe created by his family states that Plumb is undergoing surgery as doctors attempt to salvage his eye after it was badly damaged in the attack.

“He has multiple other wounds from fighting off his attacker. It’s absolutely unreal that a human being could do this to another,” writes granddaughter Janelle Karatsiki in the GoFundMe.

“The outcome is still unknown at this time but we have had an overwhelming response with people wanting to help so this is where you can do that.”

The goal of the fundraiser is $10,000 and as of the time of publication has received approximately $5,900.

Karatsiki states that all funds raised will go towards supporting Plumb in his medical recovery both physically and mentally. Any extra funds will be donated to a charity of his choice. Click here to donate.

https://www.facebook.com/raymond.corbett.12/posts/10162227045630096

Comox Valley RCMP are also seeking public assistance in locating the suspect.

He has been described as being young, possibly in his 20s, with a dark complexion, and was wearing something on his head at the time of the incident.

“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).

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Brishti Basu
Former Senior Staff Writer and Content Manager at Victoria Buzz.

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