RCMP in Burnaby, B.C., have issued a warning after a woman was attacked near the location of a recent homicide.

In the latest incident, a 25-year-old woman was walking alone on the 4800-block of Smith Avenue around 1:40 a.m. PT on April 18, when she was attacked from behind by a man who knocked her to the ground.

"She was pulled down to the ground and she screamed and woke up several neighbours," said Sonya Noeth, a friend of the victim.

Noeth said her friend managed to get free from her attacker, but then "he tried to pull her back up and I guess she screamed enough. He ran back up toward Price Avenue."

Police describe the man as:

Having light skin.

Short dark hair.

About five feet 11 inches.

Approximately 165 lbs.

Wearing a black coat and black pants.

While police can't say if there is a link between this assault and the homicide of Elmer Libertino on April 16, investigators acknowledge that both incidents took place in the same area, close to the same time and with people who were on foot, said Staff Sgt. Major John Buis.

A police officer on routine patrol found Libertino lying in a pool of blood in the middle of Moscrop Street at Smith Avenue just before 3 a.m. on Thursday, April 16.

"We are, out of an abundance of caution, letting the neighbours know that there could possibly be someone in the neighbourhood that's doing this," added Buis.

"We haven't ruled that out but there are two incidents that occurred there within a couple of days so we're very concerned about that."

Libertino poses with his hair grown out. On the night he was killed, his head was shaved. Investigators say he had no criminal record or prior contact with police. (IHIT)

Police have also issued an appeal to a group of people playing a geotagging game in the area that night for possible clues about the killing.

"It should be noted that no other stranger assaults have been reported in Burnaby in the past month," said a police statement on Tuesday.

"Please trust your instincts and be aware of your surroundings and if at all possible travel in pairs, especially if you are out walking late at night," said the statement.