Caught on camera: Yaletown assault that left man with head injuries

Life-altering sucker punch caught on cam New evidence was released in a nightclub attack as police hit a dead end in their search for a suspect.

As Vancouver police share surveillance video of a disturbing attack outside a Yaletown lounge, the club’s owner tells CTV News he’s only now learning just how serious the incident was.

The 28-year-old victim was attacked outside Pierre's Champagne Lounge on March 31, 2018, and suffered serious head injuries that police are calling “life-altering.”

Owner Mike Morissette only learned police were still searching for suspects when CTV News contacted the lounge about investigators’ public appeal for help identifying the men in the video.

“Hearing they were still searching for them was a total shock to us,” he said. “I thought this was done and I didn’t even know the injuries were so serious.”

Video of the incident shows a group of people standing outside the venue at 1:59 a.m. when a man in a baseball cap suddenly punches another man in the head twice.

The victim then falls to the sidewalk, and lies motionless as a second suspect appears to shout at him. Vancouver police say the second suspect then assaulted a friend of the victim shortly after.

“To watch that on video, it’s hard for us to watch as operators,” said Morissette, who claims the two attackers weren’t patrons of the high-end lounge on Hamilton Street. “I’ve got kids growing up, so for me to watch some young kid get punched out...it hits close to home. We want people to be safe.”

When asked why police waited so long to release the video, a Vancouver police spokesperson defended the move, saying it was necessary to do as much work as possible before going public with the suspects’ images.

“The investigation’s been underway the whole time,” insisted Sgt. Jason Robillard. “There were investigative steps necessary and going to the media is an investigative step even if it’s later in this investigation. In this case, we’re releasing it today in the hopes we are able to identify the two individuals in the video.”

The second victim had only minor injuries, but the man who was sucker-punched is still grappling with serious head injuries according to police. They say the two victims are friends.

If anyone recognizes either the man who threw the punch or his friend who is seen yelling at the victim as he lay unconscious can reach police at 604-717-2541. Those want to remain anonymous can instead call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.