Man arrested in connection with New Year's Day homicide at Oppenheimer Park

Vancouver police have arrested a man in connection to the city's first homicide of 2020, which happened on New Year's Day. 

Glen Domenic Martin, a 50-year-old resident of Vancouver, was arrested and charged Thursday in connection to the death of Jesus Cristobal-Esteban, Const. Tania Visintin said in a statement.

Martin has been charged with manslaughter. 

"Homicide investigators have worked meticulously on this file to gather evidence and recommend charges," she said.

"We hope this arrest brings some closure to the victim's friends and family and the community."

Cristobal-Esteban, 62, was taken to hospital by paramedics after he suffered serious head injuries from an altercation near the park's basketball court.

Visintin says he died the next day in hospital. The allegation against Martin has not been proven in court.

'Multiple seizures of weapons'

The news comes as police allege continuing violence and public safety issues connected to the park's tent city.

A 32-year-old man was hit in the face with an axe handle inside a tent on Tuesday morning and investigating officers seized a total of three axes, six knives and a bolt cutter when they searched the tent, according to a VPD press release.

"Our officers are continuing to deal with multiple seizures of weapons in the park, which raises safety concerns for members of the community, as well as our officers," VPD spokesperson Sgt. Aaron Roed said in the release. 

"We continue to issue warnings about crime stemming from the park, which is showing no signs of slowing down."

Early Wednesday morning, firefighters responded to a tent on fire in the encampment, which caused propane and aerosol containers to explode, police say. No one was injured in the fire.