Homeless man left with head, facial trauma after ‘unprovoked’ attack in Nanaimo: RCMP

Police say a 24-year-old homeless man suffered head and facial injuries in an unprovoked attack in downtown Nanaimo over the weekend.

The man was attacked around 9:30 p.m. Saturday along Museum Way in the city’s downtown core.

“[They] had black bandanas on and black hats and they started swinging at us, they had police batons and they started swinging at us and there were three of my friends that were there and I was the one that took the most severe hit,” said the victim, whose identity we’re protecting because he fears being attacked again.

Witnesses told investigators that the homeless man was sitting on the road when three male suspects dressed in dark clothing approached him, asked a question and then struck him with a metal pipe or similar object.

The three males ran toward Gordon Street and were last seen getting into a black minivan, then heading toward Terminal Avenue, according to police.

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An hour and a half later realizing the gash on his forehead was serious friends called an ambulance. Paramedics then reported the attack to police.

The homeless man was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries to his head and face. He says he was in hospital two days before being released.

“This appears to be an unprovoked attack on a person in our community who was unable to defend himself,” said Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Simon Gallimore.

Anyone with saw the attack or has dashcam or surveillance footage of the area located between Museum Way, Commercial Street, Terminal Avenue and Gordon Street between 9 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.

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