Man charged in connection with downtown Vancouver stabbing

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD)says a man hasbeen chargedin connection with a stabbingin the city's downtown entertainment district last week.

Jeronimo Fuentes, 29, has been charged with one count of aggravated assault, the VPDsaid Wednesday in a statement.

Police say they responded to reports that a 32-year-old man had been stabbed in the back on Nelson Street, near Hornby Street, just before 10 p.m. on July 22.

At the time, The VPD said there were three stabbings that night in the same area, and there was no apparent connection betweenthe suspect and the victims.

On July 31, police named Fuentes and said he is now in custody until his next court appearance, set for Aug. 12.

The police force says the other two stabbings remain under investigation.

Vancouver mayor calls violence 'unacceptable'

Vancouver Mayor Ken Simissued a statementWednesdaycalling for change after what he termed an unacceptable pattern of repeat offences.

"I'm incredibly relieved that, thanks to the swift response of the Vancouver Police Department, there were no fatalities in the recent stabbing," said Sim.

"However, the fact that this attack was [allegedly] again carried out by a repeat offender, someone well-known to the police with numerous previous charges, highlights a serious issue we need to address."

According to court records, Fuentes was foundguilty in June of assaultstemming from an incident in September 2023. He was sentenced to one day in jail and placed on probation for one year.

The court documents also show he was previously given a conditional sentence following an assault that occurred in New Westminster in September 2022. He wascharged with breaching his conditions a number of times.

The B.C. Prosecution Service told CBC News Fuentes was bound by the terms of a conditional sentence order out of New Westminster at the time of the alleged aggravated assault in Vancouver.