A youth was beaten with a baseball bat badly enough over the weekend that he needed to be airlifted to a Victoria hospital.
Nanaimo RCMP issued a press release Monday, June 19, advising the public about the incident which happened at about 5 p.m. on Friday, June 16, on Bruce Avenue near Dundas Street.
“Witnesses told police the suspect was seen approaching the victim wearing a mask and carrying a baseball bat,” the release noted. “The suspect then allegedly hit the victim with the bat and kicked him before fleeing on foot with a group of four to five youths.”
Nanaimo RCMP, Nanaimo Fire Rescue and B.C. Ambulance Service all responded to the scene, where passersby had already started providing first aid to the victim. The 18-year-old male patient was transported first to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, then airlifted to a Victoria hospital with “serious, life-threatening injuries,” said police.
Officers haven’t yet made any arrests in relation to the incident, but have located and seized a vehicle “associated to the assault” for forensic examination.
“This was a vicious attack carried out in broad daylight that has shocked the community. We want to assure people that this is a priority investigation and that the investigators are focused on identifying who is responsible, and holding them accountable for their actions,” said reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, in the release.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP’s non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
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editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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