A bleeding, 22-year-old man staggered into Country Grocer in Royal Oak last night after being stabbed multiple times in the parking lot.
In a dramatic and traumatizing scene, staff and store patrons performed First Aid on the man while paramedics were on route. He was taken to Victoria General Hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries.
Saanich police detectives think the young man was stabbed in the parking lot near the north entrance to the store around 9:15 p.m., near the garden and outdoor department.
As of Thursday morning, police hadn't interviewed the victim yet, who is in stable condition, but might require more surgeries, said Sgt. Dean Jantzen.
It’s not yet known how many people assaulted the victim or what led to the assault. Police haven’t found any passersby who directly witnessed the altercation.
Jantzen said the victim is a person familiar to police. “We are not expressing a public warning as of yet. The feeling from investigators is that he was probably targeted, that it involved people known to each other,” he said.
Four Saanich major crimes detectives and a forensics team are on the case. Police are canvassing people in the neighbourood today, especially on Viewmont Avenue behind the plaza. Jantzen said the suspect or suspects would have likely fled in the direction of Viewmont.
Greater Victoria Victims Services attended Country Grocer last night to offer trauma counselling to staff and numerous people who witnessed the man being treated.
“It was very traumatic for witnesses and staff,” Jantzen said. “It was quite a dramatic scene and a lot of blood.”
Saanich police are are looking to speak to anyone who was in the parking lot near Country Grocer or who might have driven by on Viewmont Avenue between 9 and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night. The Saanich major crimes tip line is 250-475-4356 or Crime Stoppers is 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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