Man arrested after hammer attacks during Vancouver Pride celebrations

A Vancouver man is in police custody following a series of violent attacks in the midst of otherwise peaceful gay pride celebrations in Vancouver Sunday.

Police say the incident began when the 31-year-old man was chased into the street by a shop owner after allegedly stealing a drink from a corner store on Davie St. in the West End around 10:30 p.m. PT.  The owner of Tutti's convenience store, Reza Khalaj, said the man was wearing a black wig and black glasses and was carrying a hammer and a handgun.

He then allegedly began attacking people in nearby restaurants and bars with a hammer, beginning at the Majestic restaurant and lounge. Six people there were struck with the hammer, including one who was knocked unconscious.  

"He ran to the Majestic, and he started hitting people with the hammer," Khalaj said. "I saw the black gun in his hand, and he started … just smashing the people with the hammer."

The man then moved on to a nearby restaurant patio, where he allegedly struck two women and a man. He also pointed an imitation handgun at a man who tried to subdue him, said Vancouver police Const. Jana McGuinness.

Nine people were taken to hospital with injuries, none of which appears to be life-threatening. The man faces 17 charges, including assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon and a count of theft under $5,000, police said.

The owner of Majestic, Vince Marino, said it was a terrible way to end an otherwise jubilant day.

"It was an amazing day," he said. "People were just enjoying [themselves]. It was probably one of the best Prides that we've had. And it's just been sort of a sad way to end it, a bit."

Two Majestic employees were among those injured in the attacks, Marino said.

Hundreds of thousands of people attended Vancouver's annual gay pride parade on Sunday.

The attack, however, does not appear to be the result of a hate crime, according to McGuiness.

"This is obviously a random, unpredictable, violent series of assaults," she said.

McGuiness said the man in custody has a history of mental illness and was already known to police.