Suspect charged with murder, assault over Vancouver stranger attacks

VANCOUVER — A 34-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault over what police called a pair of stranger attacks in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday.

Vancouver police say in a statement that Brendan Colin McBride remains in custody until his next court appearance on Sept. 18.

Police also identified the man who died as 70-year-old Francis David Laporte.

Officers say the first attack occurred early Wednesday morning near Richards and Dunsmuir streets, where a man had his hand severed by his assailant.

Police say they aren’t identifying that victim for privacy reasons and he remains in hospital.

While officers were investigating the first attack, police say Laporte was killed outside the nearby Queen Elizabeth Theatre at West Georgia and Hamilton streets.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 5, 2024.

The Canadian Press