Mounties in Campbell River are actively seeking witnesses to a fatal attack that took place last week.
A 60-year-old homeless man, identified by a friend as Dean Dool, was assaulted out front of the Royal Bank on Shopper’s Row in downtown Campbell River shortly before 11 p.m. on Oct. 15, according to RCMP. Immediately following the attack, Dool was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died in the morning hours of Oct. 18.
In a media release issued on Monday, Campbell River RCMP said they are seeking witnesses to the assault. They said there is “no indication” that the attack was random, despite what has been claimed on social media.
“Our goal in this investigation is to get justice for the deceased and ensure that the correct person is held accountable for their actions,” Campbell River RCMP Const. Maury Tyre said in the release.
RCMP also said there are several witnesses who have not come forward to provide evidence and would like to speak to them as soon as possible.
“Like almost all investigations, police require members of the community to come forward and talk to police about what they’ve seen. While people may be reluctant to come forward, we’re appealing to their sense of right and wrong here. If it was a family member of yours, we know you’d want people to come forward, we’re asking that you do the same,” added Tyre.
Among those who claim to have witnessed the assault was George Clairr. He told CHEK on Sunday that the attack was not random because it was related to drugs, claiming that Dool owed money.
“He owed money and he didn’t want to pay so they got into a conversation,” claims Clairr, adding that the assailant was wearing a mask and that the attack happened very quickly.
Dool was identified as the victim by his longtime friend, Tammy Chambers. She told CHEK that Dool was a really nice guy that once rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle but had been homeless by choice in recent years.
Witnesses or anyone with information about the assault are asked to contact the Campbell River RCMP at 250-286-6221.
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