Bill Everitt

10:47 A.M. UPDATE:

Police in Kelowna, B.C., are in the early stages of their investigation after a passenger was stabbed to death aboard a bus and the suspect fled the scene.

RCMP Const. Kris Clark says the incident occurred early Thursday evening and that he couldn't say if the male victim died on the bus or after he was rushed to hospital.

A witness told Castanet that the man appeared to die on the scene, before he was rushed to hospital.

Details regarding the suspect or their description have not yet been released.

Les Milton, president of the Kelowna local of the Amalgamated Transit Workers union, says it was a rough night for passengers and the bus driver who looked on in horror.

Milton says the passenger is believed to have been stabbed in the neck when the bus pulled over at a regular stop.

9:20 p.m. Update:

A witness has come forward and given more details about the incident to Castanet.

The witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, was two feet away from the victim when he was attacked. She says their eyes met and he looked at her with disbelief that he had been stabbed. He was holding his hand over the bleeding neck wound he'd just received in an apparent random act of violence.

She helped another male passenger try to save the victim's life, she compressed an article of her clothing against the man's wound to try and stop him from losing more blood.

The witness says there did not appear to be an altercation on the bus before the man was fatally wounded by another passenger.

"He just got on the bus and before he got off he stabbed him in the neck," she says. "The driver had already stopped the bus when the guy stabbed him and ran off."

"By the time the cops got there, the guy was already dead, I could tell by his eyes."

She says the victim looked to be in his 50s and she said she had noticed him on the bus before.

The woman did not see what the attacker looked like; others reported the man was wearing a grey hoodie.

The stabbing occurred behind Safeway on Baron Road on the 6:21 p.m. University 8 bus. There were about 20 people on the bus at the time of the incident.

RCMP say the suspect is still at large.

An earlier version of this story mistakenly said the incident occurred before 6 p.m. It occurred around 6:30 p.m.

Were you on the bus? If you've already talked to the RCMP, please send your story to [email protected]

Photo: Jennifer Zielinski

A man was fatally stabbed on a Kelowna city bus just before 6 p.m. Thursday.

The suspect is still at large and RCMP have cordoned off several areas on Leckie Road behind the Staples building.

The witness told Castanet that just before 6 p.m. there was some altercation on the bus which resulted in a stabbing.

"The Kelowna RCMP were called to a report of a disturbance on a city transit bus on Baron Road behind Dilworth Centre, located at 2339 Highway 97," media relations officer Cst Kris Clark said in a release. "An unknown male passenger was rushed to hospital but he succumbed to his injuries. Efforts are underway to apprehend the suspect at this time."

There were other passengers on the bus at the time. They are currently being interviewed by the RCMP and will be transferred to another bus to complete their journeys.

RCMP also have an area near a dumpster at 2035 Quail Place taped off. It was overheard that the suspect may have dropped something in the area, although it's currently unclear what the item might be.

The road is blocked behind the Staples building West of Leckie and Baron.

Anyone with any information who has yet to speak with police are asked to call the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.

Remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.



Were you on the bus? If you've already talked to the RCMP, please send your story to [email protected]