Nanaimo RCMP are investigating a brutal attack on a youth with a baseball bat that was caught on video and circulated on Instagram and Snapchat before being removed.
At around 5 p.m. on Friday, June 16th, on Bruce Avenue near Dundas Street an 18-year-old man was attacked with a baseball bat on the street curb as several cars drove by without stopping to assist the young man.
Police say witnesses told them that the attacker approached the victim wearing a mask that covered their face with a group of about four or five other youths.
According to witness accounts and the video taken by someone with the attacker, the 18-year-old victim was struck with the bat numerous times and kicked in the head before the group fled.
A bystander saw the boy lying near the curb on the roadway and remained with him as he lay unconscious while police, firefighters and paramedics were en route to the scene of the attack.
The young man was taken to a Nanaimo hospital before being airlifted to Victoria with serious, life-threatening injuries.
Police say that since the attack, they have located a vehicle that is allegedly associated with the attack. They have seized and impounded the vehicle for forensic examination and they have also identified the owner of the vehicle.
Despite this, no arrests have been made as of this publication.
“This was a vicious attack carried out in broad daylight that has shocked the community,” said Reserve Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
“We want to assure people that this is a priority investigation and that the investigators are focused on identifying who is responsible, and holding them accountable for their actions.”
Anyone with information on this incident should contact Nanaimo RCMP at (250) 754-2345.
