There is no connection between a recent fatal attack on a homeless man and other incidents involving Campbell River’s homeless, say police.
In recent weeks there have been a string of attacks on homeless people living in Campbell River, including a fatal assault that took place in front of the Royal Bank in the city’s downtown last week.
Dean Dool, a 60-year-old homeless man, was assaulted out front of the Royal Bank on Shopper’s Row in downtown Campbell River shortly before 11 p.m. on Oct. 15.
Immediately following the attack, Dool was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died in the morning hours of Oct. 18.
MORE: RCMP seek witnesses, information regarding fatal attack in Campbell River
However, Campbell River RCMP said although the attack did not appear to be random, they do not believe the suspect is responsible for other crimes against homeless people in the city, stressing that there is no connection between the incidents.
“Absolutely none,” said Campbell River RCMP Const. Maury Tyre in an e-mailed response to CHEK.
Just days after the assault, on Oct. 17, a fire broke out at a homeless camp on Quinsam Road, which Campbell River RCMP are calling suspicious.
That fire came a little more than a week after firefighters encountered several traps while responding to another fire at a homeless camp, this time in a wooded area near Highway 28 and Highway 19.
Although that fire was not considered suspicious, RCMP found several traps in the forest, which they believe were set to deter other homeless people from entering the area.
And late last month, a 20-year-old homeless man who was sleeping under a highway overpass was set on fire. Campbell River RCMP said the fire was set intentionally and that the man suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
MORE: RCMP investigating after man ‘set on fire’ while sleeping in Campbell River
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