A 26-year-old Burnaby man may be facing manslaughter charges after Vancouver police announced Wednesday that they are investigating the city's 12th homicide of the year.
Jessie David Daniel Thomson, 22, succumbed to his injuries in hospital, more than two weeks after being allegedly assaulted.
Police say Thomson wandered into the roadway in the 600-block Terminal Avenue following the altercation - which involved two men - and was struck by a vehicle.
Donald Denis Cote, a 26-year-old Burnaby man, was originally arrested without incident on Oct. 27 and charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and assault, said Vancouver Police spokesman Const. Lindsey Houghton.
"Investigators discovered information quite quickly that led them to believe that [Cote] and the victim were acquaintances and knew each other," said Houghton.
Houghton said charges are now expected to be upgraded to manslaughter against Cote, who is known to police.
The second suspect was not arrested and is not facing charges. Houghton said the driver who struck Thomson was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"The driver of that vehicle was very co-operative with [police] and is under no suspicion," said Houghton.
Cote in is police custody and is scheduled to appear in Vancouver Provincial Court on Nov. 4.
