Vancouver police have arrested two men accused of posing as police officers and violently attacking an elderly woman in her home last weekend, who has since died of her injuries.
Police said Wednesday the two suspects were arrested Tuesday, the same day 78-year-old Usha Singh died in hospital.
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“This was a tragic and senseless crime that cost an innocent woman her life, and struck fear and anxiety in the community,” spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison said in a statement.
“Vancouver is still a safe city, and thankfully incidents like this are rare. We hope these arrests begin to restore a sense of calm and safety.”
The incident is now Vancouver’s second homicide of 2021.
Singh was found gravely injured in her home near Queen Elizabeth Park on the city’s west side Sunday morning after a friend called police to conduct a wellness check. Investigators believe she had been left helpless inside for hours.
Police have said Singh, who lives alone, let two men who she was led to believe were police officers inside her home where she was attacked.
Investigators would not reveal more information about why Singh thought the men were officers, or any other evidence that would help the public identify the suspects.
Police said the first suspect — a 47-year-old man who was also wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for unrelated offences — was arrested Tuesday near Strathcona Park by a police canine unit. The man suffered a “serious but non-life-threatening” injury during the arrest and was treated in hospital before being taken to jail, police said.
The second suspect, 41, was arrested Tuesday evening near Main Street and Terminal Avenue.
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Vancouver senior attacked in her home by two men posing as police officers: VPD
Police said multiple search warrants were executed Tuesday night in relation to the investigation, and evidence is still being gathered.
Spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin said Tuesday that the case was a top priority for the department.
“There’s a lot of people on this, a lot of members, different sections,” she said. “Rest assured that we are not just sleeping on this. We have the tools and we are doing what we do best.”
Investigators are still asking anyone with information about the attack that led to Singh’s death to contact Vancouver police or Crime Stoppers.