Man faces murder charge in North Van stabbing spree
Stories of heroism begin to emerge after woman killed, six hurt in attack at library
A 28-year-old man faces a murder charge for Saturday's mass stabbing at the Lynn Valley Library in North Vancouver that left one woman dead and six people injured.
Yannick Bandaogo was charged Sunday with second-degree murder. Police said he had undergone surgery for self-inflicted stab wounds.
Police said they were trying to identify his background, his history in B.C., his relationship to the victims, if any, and his motive for the attack.
They have not identified the woman who died, but said she was in her late 20s.
The injuries of the six other victims vary in severity, but all are expected to survive.
All day Sunday, a steady stream of people braced stormy weather to place flowers at a makeshift memorial between the library and the Browns Socialhouse restaurant next door. Along with several businesses near the library, the Socialhouse was closed Sunday.
District of North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little said more stories of people who acted as heroes by stepping up to help will be emerging in the coming days as the neighbourhood comes together to begin healing.
He said staff at Browns Socialhouse “gave refuge to people that were running, and some injured people. There was a very badly injured person who ended up in the restaurant as well.
“They had a front row to a very dramatic scene, so we're trying to make sure that the proper resources get to support those people,” he said. “Anybody in the community that witnessed this or that just feels a heaviness from it, we encourage you to get professional help. The RCMP crisis line is available to people if they want to talk, and we also have other local resources as well.”
Darren Hailes said he arrived in the area after finishing a run with some friends and someone approached him to ask if he had first aid training. He did and went to help.
“We weren't immediately aware of the violence that had just taken place because the area was so calm,” Hailes recounted on Sunday.
He said he later talked to a man who tried to lure the attacker away from other people in the library.
“Realizing he wasn't going to be able to intervene and stop a man with a knife on his own, he immediately began to back away and to call the attacker toward him.”
The man backed through the library lobby and down the street and he was there when the police arrested the suspect, Hailes said.
“People are upset about it,” said Little. “This is the kind of place that people come to with their families. It's our library and civic space. We give out awards to kids in the area. We have many community concerts here, so people feel like it could have happened to anyone.”
Some people tucked handmade cards into bags to protect against the rain and put them into the pile of flowers.
Jordan McCarthy, a first-year university student, was with a small group of young women, some in Grade 12, who all work at Browns.
While others came and went, they lingered longer to be together and think.
“Speaking for myself, I think growing up here, we're all pretty close. It's a really close community,” said McCarthy. “I think (this is) just showing as much support as possible. So spending time here and bringing flowers, it means a lot.”
Some had been at work at the restaurant when the stabbings happened and declined to speak to media, citing guidance from a manager. Others said they were still trying to sort their feelings.
One said she learned to read at the library. A few spoke of a high school chemistry teacher they know who is among the injured.
McCarthy wasn't working when the stabbings happened, but she was in the library.
“I didn't really see too much. I mainly just heard, like, screams,” she said. “It's scary for something so tragic to happen in an area that you grew up in that feels like home, so I think it will definitely impact me personally for a while.”
News of the stabbings brought back a flood of painful memories for Maryam Farmani Seyar who still has a large scar on her right hand from being stabbed in a random attack in 2013 when she was walking downtown.
“It's not fair for people,” said the Lynn Valley resident, breaking into tears.
Police did not release any other details about the accused.
No one with the name Bandaogo has a criminal record in B.C.
However, according to a Postmedia News search of court records in Quebec, there was a Canada-wide arrest warrant issued in September 2020 for a 28-year-old man called Yannick Bandaogo.
Records show Bandaogo pleaded guilty to assault in a domestic violence case in 2019 in Longueuil, Que. A bench warrant was issued for Bandaogo's arrest in July 2020 for failure to appear in court.
In October 2018, Bandaogo was sentenced to one month in jail for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
The same day he was sentenced to four months in jail for assault causing bodily harm and handed a three-month term for two separate assault cases.