Update: Late-night assault in Chilliwack leaves youth with life-threatening injuries

UPDATE, 8:30 A.M. TUESDAY: In a news release issued Tuesday morning, RCMP spokesperson Corporal Carmen Kiener says the youth who was attacked by unknown suspects was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and remains in serious condition.

Corporal Kiener says it is alleged that both assaults involved the same suspects, however, the two victims are not known to one another.

The Chilliwack RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit is asking members of the public who were in the area of Wells Road and Vedder Road around 2 a.m. early Sunday morning, or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact police at 604-792-4611.

Original story from Monday, May 4 at 8:54 a.m.: 

CHILLIWACK – A section of Wells Road in Chilliwack was closed for several hours Sunday after two reported assaults occurred in Sardis overnight, one of which left a youth with serious injuries.

RCMP personnel blocked access to the 45500 block of Wells Road in both directions on Sunday while investigators processed the scene of reported assault.

According to a statement of confirmation from RCMP spokesperson Corporal Carmen Kiener, two separate incidents occurred around 2 a.m. early Sunday (May 3) within a short period of time and close proximity in the Gaetz/Vedder road area.

Corporal Kiener says each incident resulted in one victim suffering from injuries. The youth victim is being treated for serious injuries and remains in hospital.

Police believe the two incidents were caused by the same group of individuals. Anyone in the area is asked to check any CCTV that might be available from their homes or vehicles, Corporal Kiener said.

A Chilliwack resident told Fraser Valley Today that her husband was assaulted by a group of people after he was walking home from a pub on Gaetz Street, and that a car driving by got involved because of the assault in progress.

“We don’t know the other people involved,” she said. “We think they showed up because of the commotion and unfortunately got dragged into it. My husband was walking home from the Major League (pub) and the car happened to be driving by. He was leaving the bar after having (drinks) with his coworker. He was not looking for a fight by any means. He’s a big guy, too, so he defended himself pretty good but he was attacked by multiple people at a time like they jumped him.”

She said her husband was attacked by people using a bottle, and that no words were exchanged between her husband and the group of attackers.

“They bottled my husband as he was walking home from the bar, right on that bend (of Wells Road) near the tracks; they attacked him with a bottle and used the bottle on the other car as well,” the Sardis resident said. “My husband ran back to Major League once he was free from the guy that was on top of him, because the kids got distracted by the vehicle that had come up, I assume, to see what was going on, so he had an opportunity to escape and ran to Major League to get the police. They were hesitant to initially help him until the other victim showed up a few moments later, and then the cop realized it was a serious situation. At 3 a.m., there was lots of police presence around the Wells Road/Stevenson area and down the train tracks near Evans Road.”

The 45500 block of Wells Road was blocked on Sunday by RCMP members. (Image Credit: Mike Vanden Bosch.)

“The kid attacking my husband also made mention of a CO2 gun of some sort, so I imagine they use that to intimidate people as well,” she added.

The people who attacked her husband were on foot and not on e-scooters or bikes. It was reported on social media that this group of teens were in a Sardis park just a few hours before the assault.

“My husband was on the ground holding off another guy… so he just knows the kids used the bottle on (people from) the other car,” she said. “My husband has a good gash on his forehead from the bottle, and then his hands and forearms are all scratched up and his knees, too.”

The woman says she and her husband want to press charges against the assailants.