Warning: This story contains graphic content
Victoria police on Friday (May 24) released security camera footage of three people kicking another individual repeatedly during an early morning incident downtown earlier this month.
The video shows an interaction involving four people and begins with three approaching a victim who gets sprayed with a substance police said was pepper spray.
Officers responded to the 600-block of Yates Street after receiving reports about an assault just before 12:30 a.m. on May 11.
VicPD said one person was swarmed and was one of two victims, described as youth, who were pepper sprayed. The victim is seen falling to the ground before three people start to repeatedly kick them. After several seconds, people who intervened are seen running toward the sidewalk assault.
One of the victims was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Responding officers weren’t able to find the suspects. Police are looking to identify the suspects and speak to any witnesses.
*The following video contains graphic content (violence) - Viewer discretion is advised.* Investigators are looking for assistance identifying 3 suspects who pepper sprayed & physically assaulted two youth downtown #yyj on May 11.
— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) May 24, 2024
Learn More: https://t.co/vJNKTXIgp7 pic.twitter.com/7kP2dzzDX1
The night of May 11 also saw a spat of alleged incidents involving youth fighting in Esquimalt, according to information VicPD released earlier this month.
Police said a group of youth were seen fighting along Esquimalt Road around 10:15 p.m. that night, shortly before officers found four young people who had been bear sprayed. Within an hour of that incident, police also got reports of two people allegedly being assaulted by youth and another woman being bear sprayed. All the reported incidents occurred within a few blocks of Esquimalt Road.
Asked if the incidents on Yates Street were connected to those in Esquimalt, a police spokesperson said “we don’t have information at this time that links these incidents but the investigations are still ongoing and we are still gathering information.”
Anyone who recognizes any of the suspects, or has any information about the Yates Street incident, is asked to call 250-995-7654 ext. 1 and reference file number 24-16204.
READ: More youth violence involving pepper spray in Greater Victoria over the weekend
