Transit police seek suspect in SkyTrain hate crime

Transit police are asking for help in identifying the suspect in an apparent hate-crime incident and have released a video of him getting off the SkyTrain after allegedly assaulting and harassing two men who were on-board.

Two young men got on the SkyTrain at Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver at about 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, according to a statement from Metro Vancouver Transit Police.

As they boarded, “another man kicked the foot of one of the young men and then left his seat to aggressively approach him. The victim crouched down in fear as the suspect raised his hand as if to hit him, while yelling obscenities and homophobic insults.”

The victim’s husband pushed the yellow emergency strip on the train as an unidentified passenger pulled the suspect away from the victim. As the suspect again got aggressive toward the victim, the husband of the victim grabbed the suspect and pulled him away. The suspect then hit the husband in the face, knocking off his glasses, according to police.

As the train pulled into Granville SkyTrain Station, police said the suspect tried to kick one of the men in the stomach, spat in the other’s face and continued to hurl profanities and homophobic remarks toward the couple as he walked away.

The suspect is described as Caucasian, 30 to 40 years old, six foot three to six foot four, with a strong but not muscular build. He had several days of stubble growth on a longer face and was wearing red Nike shoes, a black baseball cap, dark-hooded jacket and black shorts.

Transit police have liaised with the B.C. Hate Crimes Unit on the case. Anyone with information, or who may have witnessed this incident, is asked to call the tip line at 604-516-7419 or text 87-77-77, citing reference file No. 2018-17964.