A 32-year-old Vancouver man has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of a Japanese chef that took place in Vancouver Chinatown a week ago.

Wataru Kakiuchi, who was working as a chef at Hapa Izakaya, was found critically injured near Union and Main streets just before 3:30 a.m. on June 5 but succumbed to his wounds before he could be hospitalized.

The Vancouver Police Department announced on Wednesday they arrested Timothy Isborn that afternoon and charged him with one count of second-degree murder.

“We thank everyone in the community for their support while we worked around the clock to collect the evidence that ultimately led to the suspect”, said Sargent Steve Addison in a statement. “Evidence gathered by our investigators, along with information from the public, was integral to us making this arrest”

The owner of Hapa Izakaya where Kakiuchi worked remembered his chef fondly.

“(He) was a really bright, positive person,” Justin Ault said to Global News about his chef.

“(He) was the type of person no one could dislike.”

Police do not believe that Kakiuchi and Isborn knew each other prior to the incident, and police have not said anything regarding Isborn’s motives, reported CBC.

Anyone with information regarding Kakicuhi’s death is urged to contact the VPD Homicide Unit at 604-717-2500.

AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our efforts to produce diverse content about the AAPI communities. We are supported in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

Related