What started as a late-night bike ride took a frightening turn for two women in Vernon, B.C., on Friday night.
Global News is not disclosing the women’s identities for safety reasons.
The women were cycling through Polson Park around 11 p.m. when they made a short stop. It was at this moment that they saw a man emerge from the shadows.
“It felt a bit sketchy, so we trusted our instincts and decided to leave,” one of the women recounted to Global News.
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However, as they turned to leave, things took a rapid turn for the worse.
“As soon as we started to run, he began running towards us,” one of the women shared. “Before I knew it, he was right next to my bike, extremely close to my face, brandishing a knife and making threats like, ‘I’m going to kill you,’ repeatedly.”
The assailant kept threatening them while one of the women begged him to stop.
“She was saying, ‘No, please don’t, we’re leaving,’” her friend remembered. “He replied, ‘I’m going to effing kill you — get out of here.’ I was paralyzed. Then he just walked away.”
Shocked, the two women dashed across the street and called 911. RCMP officers arrived just before midnight, but they were unable to track down the suspect.
Police are searching for a man who was last seen wearing black sweatpants, a black hoodie, and a fanny pack.
The victims reported feeling fearful even after they returned home that night.
“He clearly intended to harm us and nothing else; he could have robbed us,” one woman noted.
Vernon RCMP are actively investigating this case and are encouraging anyone with information to get in touch with them.
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