NANAIMO — A person has died from stab wounds following a violent incident in the parking lot of a downtown shopping complex.
Emergency first responders from Nanaimo RCMP, Fire Rescue and BC Emergency Health Services were dispatched to Port Place Shopping Centre on Terminal Ave. on Sunday, Jan. 22 shortly after 7 p.m.
Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said a person at the mall was attacked by an adult man and sustained stab wounds.
“[When police arrived] there was an individual who was being treated by bystanders and receiving emergency first aid. That person was taken to hospital and later pronounced deceased.”
O’Brien said a suspect was not on scene, but officers arrested an adult male “some time later” in relation to the incident.
No formal charges have been laid against the man and as such, he cannot be identified. He remains in police custody.
Police are also unable to say what, if any, relationship existed between the victim and suspect.
O’Brien said investigators are not looking for any other suspects and there is not considered to be further risk to the public.
Nanaimo RCMP officers stay on scene of a significant incident in front of Port Place Shopping Centre Sunday night. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)Despite reports circulating on social media after the incident, the victim was not a security guard at Port Place Shopping Centre.
“We’re not releasing any information on the deceased or the suspect, but we can say the information floating on social media is absolutely incorrect and irresponsible.”
O’Brien was unable to comment on any personal details such as age of either the suspect or the victim.
Police maintained a presence in the immediate area for several hours after the incident with a large taped off portion of the parking lot.
Several points of interest for investigators were identified by cones and evidence markers.
Officers on scene also restricted entry and exit into Port Place itself, with just a single access point available by the Italian Fountain off Terminal Ave.
Nanaimo RCMP officers remained on scene for several hours after a stabbing incident at Port Place Shopping Centre Sunday night. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening.
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