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What started as a late-night bike ride turned into a frightening ordeal for two women in Vernon, B.C., on Friday evening.
The women, who remain anonymous for safety reasons, were cycling through Polson Park around 11 p.m. when they made a brief stop. It was then that they noticed a man emerging from the shadows.
“It felt a little sketchy, and we instinctively decided to leave,” one of the women shared.
As they attempted to leave the area, the situation took a dangerous turn.
“As soon as we began to run, he sprinted towards us,” one woman recounted. “Before I knew it, he was right next to me, wielding a knife and making threats, saying repeatedly, ‘I’m going to kill you.’”
The assailant persisted with his threats even as one of the women begged him to stop.
“She was saying, ‘No, please don’t, we’re leaving,’” her friend reflected. “He replied, ‘I’m going to freakin’ kill you — get out of here.’ I just stood there, frozen. After that, he simply walked away.”
Shaken by the encounter, the women quickly crossed the street and contacted 911. RCMP officers arrived shortly before midnight but were unable to find the suspect.
Police have described the man as wearing black sweatpants, a black hoodie, and a fanny pack.
The victims expressed ongoing fear even after returning home that night. “He clearly intended to harm us; it felt like he could have easily robbed us instead,” one of the women noted.
Vernon RCMP are actively pursuing the investigation and encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward.
Source
globalnews.ca