The victim of a random machete attack in downtown Vancouver on New Year's Eve says he credits his hat for helping save his life. William Johnson says he was hit over the head with a machete outside the Blenz coffee shop near Granville and Nelson streets at about 7 p-m. Johnson says he believes his hat helped save his life as he only required four stitches. A 33 year old man has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon.The man has also been charged with two counts of assault causing bodily harm, robbery, and possession of a dangerous weapon in connection with the incidents.

The RCMP say a Calgary man and B.C. woman have been attacked and killed after stopping on the side of a highway just west of Creston, B.C. Police say the victims were found at around 7 p.m. Wednesday just a few kilometres outside Creston at a pullout on Highway 3 in southeast B.C. Both had been stabbed and police say the suspect is reported to have fled in a vehicle belonging to one of the victims. A statement from the Mounties says a 40 year old Calgary man was pronounced dead at the scene and a 25 year old West Kootenay woman was rushed to hospital but could not be revived. The stolen vehic

Investigators are appealing for witnesses, dashcam video or other surveillance tape as they investigate the first homicide of the year in Surrey, B.C.A statement from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team identifies 24-year-old Gary Kang as the man fatally shot at his home in Surrey's Morgan Heights neighbourhood early Wednesday.The statement says Kang was known to police, had a history of gang activity and his death is linked to ongoing conflict in Metro Vancouver. Police believe more than one suspect was involved in the attack.They say they are also exploring possible connections betwe

British Columbia's health minister and provincial health officer urged people to look after their mental health and well-being as the province reported 625 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The province also reported eight additional deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 962. The new numbers bring the province's total number of cases since the pandemic began to 55,254, with 6,343 active cases. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a statement that this time of year can be difficult for people, and COVID-19 can compound those difficulties. The pair urged people to

Victoria's mayor says a city councillor's decision to travel internationally over the holidays was both disappointing and irresponsible given the sacrifices so many have made because of COVID-19. Lisa Helps says there can't be two sets of expectations, one for the public and another for elected officials. Councillor Sharmarke Dubow, who is now in quarantine in Vancouver, tweeted that he made a poor choice to travel to Somalia over the holidays and he apologized to his constituents. He said he had been planning the trip for years and it was the first time he had returned since fleeing civil wa

Surrey has recorded its first fatal shooting of 2021. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says in a post on social media that a man who was known to police died early this morning. Few details have been released but I-HIT says the man was in his home in the Morgan Heights neighbourhood when he was attacked. Surrey recorded four fatal shootings between November 29th and December 30th last year. It included three targeted attacks, but investigators have not linked any of those homicides or this morning's latest slaying.

Police in BC have handed out 77 tickets since the pandemic began to people who broke the federal Quarantine Act. The fines gathered for those who flouted the two-week quarantine rules total more than 84-thousand dollars. The Public Safety Ministry also says 574 tickets have been issued either for organizers of events or individuals who didn't follow the provincial health officer's orders.The tickets were issued between August 21st and January 1st. More than 100 of those tickets cost 2,300 dollars each.

Police in Burnaby, BC, say a police dog helped find the suspect in a pair of break-ins not far from the scene. RCMP say they received reports of two break-ins in the early morning hours of New Year's Day. Break ins were reported near Kingsway and Imperial Street. The canine led officers to a parked car, where they found a man hiding in the trunk. They say the man is facing two counts of break and enter and they also allege he was breaching a condition prohibiting him from being in a vehicle without the registered owner present.

RCMP are asking for help identifying suspects after a series of suspicious fires at a residential building in central Richmond. Fires were reported in the 5600 block of Arcadia Road. Mounties say in a news release the fires were set November 16th, November 19th and December 29th. The first time, they allege a small appliance fan being used to air out the building was set on fire, then someone set a 20-foot boat ablaze in the underground parkade, and then there was a fire in a stairwell. RCMP say all fires have been deemed suspicious, however the motive remains unclear and it is also unclear i