York Regional Police (YRP) are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a man involved in two targeted assaults in Vaughan. The incidents, which were deemed hate-motivated by investigators, occurred within days of each other and were directed at individuals based on their country of origin.
The first attack took place on June 9 around 8:45 p.m. near Major Mackenzie Drive West and Amusement Drive. The perpetrator approached the victim, made a racist comment, and then physically assaulted them before fleeing on foot.
Just two days later, on June 11 at approximately 2:50 p.m., the same individual targeted another victim in the vicinity of Weston Road and Starling Boulevard. Once again, a racial remark was made before the victim was assaulted and the perpetrator fled the scene.
Fortunately, both victims sustained only minor injuries as a result of the attacks.
YRP’s Hate Crime Unit confirmed that both assaults were driven by hate and xenophobia, with the victims singled out because of their national backgrounds.
Authorities have shared images of the suspect and are urging anyone with information on his identity to come forward. The suspect is described as a South Asian male, around 6 feet tall, with shoulder-length black hair, and a moustache featuring a soul patch.
Residents and businesses in the affected areas are encouraged to review any surveillance footage, dashcam recordings, or doorbell camera footage from the times when the assaults occurred.