Vancouver man dies after Friday night assault on Downtown Eastside

Vancouver police say they're investigating an assault with a weapon on the Downtown Eastside Friday night that ended in the death of a 19-year-old man. 

Police have identified the victim as Vancouver resident Dakota Saje Wildeman-McNeil. They say he's the third homicide fatality of the year.

Jennifer Valliers, 32, a friend of the victim's mother, Shannon Wildeman, says she is speaking on behalf of the family about Wildeman-McNeil.

"He had his own set of issues, but he was a good kid, he just needed help," she said about Wildeman-McNeil, who had a baby son but was estranged from the child's mother.

"It's very sad that his son is not going to get to meet him."

Wildeman-McNeil died after an altercation near Jackson Avenue and Keefer Street at around 9:15 p.m., police say.

Witnesses called 911 and he was rushed to hospital, where he died of his injuries. 

Police say no one has been arrested in connection with the death. They also say this was not a random attack and there is no risk to the public.

Witness account

Clifford Gibson was repairing his van in the parking lot outside his building on Jackson Avenue when he heard screaming coming from up the street.

Gibson said he arrived at the scene after the attack and saw that police had taped off a section of the street. He said he saw emergency personnel administering first aid to a young man.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the VPD Homicide Unit at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.