A homicide investigation is underway after a 33-year-old man was stabbed to death in downtown Duncan early Saturday morning.
At around 3 a.m., North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP responded to the intersection of Kenneth Street and Jubilee Street and located a man that had been stabbed multiple times.
The victim was transported to hospital, where he later died from his injuries, according to an RCMP statement provided to CHEK News.
“Police have been able to determine that the deceased is a 33-year-old man from Duncan and efforts are now underway to notify his next of kin,” said Dawn Roberts with the BC RCMP.
Don O’Keefe, a resident in an apartment building on the corner of Kenneth and Jubilee Streets, said he woke up to screaming and police sirens.
“Then I saw the flashing lights so I got up because my bedroom window is right there,” O’Keefe said. “I walked out on the deck and the one police car was parked just in front of the [Canada Services Centre] and then I saw the body laying on the pavement.”
He added multiple officers performed CPR on the man before paramedics took over.
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) is now leading the homicide investigation with help from the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.
Mounties had cordoned off portions of Jubilee Street and Kenneth Street near Government Street in an effort to gather evidence and preserve the scene. Multiple evidence markers could be seen placed out front of the Service Canada Centre building on Jubilee Street. Blood could also be seen on the sidewalk on Jubilee Street. Both portions of Jubilee Street and Kenneth Street that were closed have since been reopened.
“Investigators did close off a wide area as it appears the victim moved through the downtown area before being located,” said Roberts.
One witness told CHEK News that they heard sirens at around 3 a.m. Saturday and that multiple police vehicles were around the scene at around 6 a.m.
Roberts said anyone who may have seen or heard anything at the time of the incident or has any information about the incident should contact RCMP at 250-380-6211.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
CHEK News
Nicholas Pescod
Mackenzie Read
