A man followed her home and bludgeoned her on the head with what felt like a metal pipe.
It was a senseless act of violence that the vocal vice-president of Strathcona Residents Association, Katie Lewis, something foretold in an interview with Vancouver Is Awesome.
In late September, Lewis expressed concerns about the level of violent crime in her neighbourhood, which has escalated since the start of the pandemic police have confirmed.
"I've had people try to break down my door, but the type of crime is escalating,” she said, especially with the growth of 400 people without shelter living in tents in Strathcona Park.
Lewis went public about her alleged assault on Saturday, which left her unconscious and bleeding at her doorstep.
“I went to drop off soup at a neighbour’s house who is sick. I walked around the periphery of [Strathcona] Park and headed home,” which was two blocks away, she said.
Although she wasn’t necessarily alone on her return home, a man reportedly had been followed her, stride by stride.
Here’s a tweet for y’all. Got beat with a yup in the head. Someone took a pipe to my head head last night at #strathconapark . It hurts. I am grafeful for all support. #vanpoli
— Katie Lewis (@kelewis) October 18, 2020
“He beat me with a metal pipe on the steps of my own stairs,” she posted to Twitter that same day after alerting the police.
Vancouver Police Department Cst. Tania Visintin confirmed officers responded to a woman who said she had been “hit on the head from behind” near East Georgia Street and Heatley Avenue on Oct. 17.
“The suspect ran off before she could get a description,” read a statement from police.
Lewis went to a local hospital for her injuries.
Also, just so we are on the record I have zero plans of quitting and I will always stand up for my community #strathcona because thay are the best. Full stop.
— Katie Lewis (@kelewis) October 18, 2020
Two violent crimes in two days
Just a day before, a 46-year-old male was discovered having been stabbed inside of a tent, wrapped in a blood-soaked towel.
A woman found the victim on the corner of Raymur Avenue and Venables Street.
Visintin emphasized there was a "large quantity of blood."
"It is very troubling to know this man was suffering from his extensive injures for eight hours or more before paramedics or police were called."
"How would you like it if your family left you for eight hours?" The officer questioned.
The victim is now in hospital, in critical but stable condition.
