Man stabs senior in chest at café table

Attempted-murder charge laid

A 71-year-old man suffered serious chest injuries when he was stabbed in broad daylight at a downtown Vancouver coffee shop.

Around 3 p.m. Wednesday, the suspect walked into the busy Waves coffee shop on West Hastings Avenue at Richards Street and without warning or provocation, stabbed the older man.

“It really is a tragic case,” said Waves spokeswoman Nicole Porter. “It was just an innocent man just sitting there. Our heart goes out to the senior.”

She said the older man was sitting by himself when the younger man sat down beside him and quickly produced a knife and stabbed him.

While shocked patrons watched, the younger man “pushed the knife further into the victim’s chest,” said Houghton.

The attacker then just stood there, waiting for police to arrive, said Houghton.

“He was sitting there in a chair, waiting to be arrested, “he said.

Porter said there was no hysteria in the café after the attack.

“Everyone maintained their composure,” she said. “Not just our staff, but our customers. They all stuck around to be interviewed by police.”

Mohamed Amer, 30, has been charged with one count each of attempted murder and obstructing a peace officer.

Amer is known to Vancouver police for violence and property-related crimes across Canada and there is also a “limited-radius” warrant for breach of probation in Ottawa in relation to an uttering-threats conviction, said Vancouver police Const. Lindsey Houghton.

Amer was twice picked up under the Mental Health Act on Feb. 21 and taken to hospital, Houghton said, adding that police would be recommending a psychiatric assessment.

The victim, who lives in the area, was in hospital on Thursday in critical but stable condition.

A Richmond man, meanwhile, was slashed in the jaw with a box cutter in a brawl near Pender and Abbott streets in Vancouver early Thursday.

A 30-year-old Vancouver man has been charged with assault and weapons charges, said Houghton.

The Richmond man, also 30, received stitches and was released from hospital.