New Westminster police probe bear spray assault after group of 4 to 5 followed pair

New Westminster police are investigating an assault involving bear spray on Carnarvon Street on Halloween night. Officers responded to a report of the assault in the 900 block at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2026.

Police said two people reported seeing a group of four to five males inside the mall near New Westminster SkyTrain Station. The group allegedly followed the two people along Carnarvon Street, where two of the males confronted and assaulted one of them before deploying bear spray.

The victim sustained facial injuries, police said. New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services attended to help with bear spray decontamination and to assess and treat the injuries. The suspects fled before officers arrived and were not located.

Descriptions and appeal

Police described the suspects as Middle Eastern or Hispanic males, all approximately six feet tall. One was dressed entirely in black, another wore all grey with a hooded sweatshirt, and a third wore red clothing with a black vest.

Investigators do not believe the people involved knew one another. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to identify those responsible and determine what led to the incident.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the incident or has dash-camera, cellphone or CCTV footage from the area of Carnarvon Street and New Westminster SkyTrain Station between 8:20 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2026, and has not yet spoken with police, to call the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411.