BURNABY, B.C. — Burnaby RCMP say a senior citizen suffered what they describe as life-altering injuries during an attack in a Metro Vancouver park.
Police say the unnamed 73-year-old man was walking in Central Park just after 9 p.m. on Sunday evening when he was assaulted.
No arrests have been made but an RCMP news release says witnesses report seeing a young man in the area during the time the assault is believed to have occurred.
He's believed to be between the ages of 14 and 18 with a slim build and just under six feet tall.
He was wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans, white shoes and possibly a red cap when he was last seen running toward a nearby SkyTrain station.
Police say the youth was seen running toward Patterson SkyTrain Station.
The teen is described as:
Non-white.
Slim build.
Roughly 5 feet, 9 inches tall.
14-18 years old.
Wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans, white shoes and possibly a red cap.
Cpl. Michael Kalanj says the senior was initially thought to have been only slightly hurt, but his injuries have been reassessed and are much more serious.
Police are asking anyone in the area around 5889 Patterson Ave., in the northeast corner of the park, on Sunday night and saw anything suspicious to contact Burnaby RCMP Serious Crimes Unit at 604-646-9999; or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or text "BCTIP" to 274637 with information.
Thirteen-year-old Burnaby resident Marrisa Shen was found murdered in the same park one year ago this week.
Police have said no arrests have been made in that case, despite a continuing RCMP investigation that has included a review of about 1,000 hours of video and checks of at least as many people.
Shen was last seen at a Tim Hortons restaurant near her home and at Central Park around 6 p.m. on July 18.
Her body was found in the park in the early hours of July 19, just hours after her mother had reported her missing.
