Yaletown nightclub knife attack: Paramveer Singh Jhooti, 31, charged after alleged face-slashing in Vancouver

VANCOUVER — A 31-year-old Delta man, Paramveer Singh Jhooti, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault after Vancouver police say he allegedly slashed another man with a knife inside a Yaletown nightclub early Monday morning. The incident happened near Nelson Street and Hamilton Street around 3 a.m., and the victim was taken to hospital with injuries police describe as non-life-threatening.

The Atmosphere: Flashing Lights and Late-Night Tension in Yaletown

In the hours when downtown streets are typically quieting down, the scene outside the club took on an unmistakable urgency: the blurred glare of red and blue emergency lights cutting through the dark, reflecting off pavement and nearby surfaces. Even from a distance, the pulsing colours signalled a fast-moving police response—one that contrasted sharply with the nightlife setting and underscored how quickly a crowded venue can turn into an active crime scene.

What Police Say Happened

According to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), officers were called to a nightclub near Nelson and Hamilton streets at about 3 a.m. Monday. Police say the victim had been attacked with a knife and was injured before officers arrived.

In a statement, VPD noted that people at the scene moved quickly to help. “Witnesses intervened and rendered first aid to the victim, prior to police arrival,” police said.

The victim was transported to hospital. Police have not released the victim’s name, but described the injuries as non-life-threatening. Reporting tied to the investigation indicates the victim’s face was slashed, though authorities have not publicly detailed the extent of the injuries.

VPD also emphasized that investigators do not believe the attack was random. The suspect was arrested outside the club the same morning, police said, and the investigation continues.

• Time: Around 3 a.m. Monday
• Location: Near Nelson Street and Hamilton Street, Yaletown
• Injuries: Victim taken to hospital; non-life-threatening
• Police assessment: Incident believed not random
• Arrest: Suspect arrested outside the club

Charge Laid, Court Dates Set

Police say Paramveer Singh Jhooti, 31, a resident of Delta, is charged with one count of aggravated assault in connection with the alleged slashing. He remains in custody, according to the latest available information.

Court records indicate a person with the same name is expected to appear in court later Monday afternoon, with a further court date scheduled for Jan. 26, 2026. Police have not said whether additional charges are being considered.

Community Shocked by Violence

While public, real-time reaction to this specific nightclub incident has been limited, the alleged attack has landed in a neighbourhood already sensitive to concerns about personal safety. In recent months, high-profile violence in and around Yaletown has fuelled community unease—even when cases are not connected.

That anxiety traces back to a separate series of incidents in October 2025, when police investigated multiple unprovoked attacks along the Yaletown seawall near David Lam Park. In that earlier case, a different suspect was arrested and charged, and police characterized the assaults as random and violent. As VPD Sgt. Steve Addison said during that October investigation:

“These assaults were violent and unprovoked, and as long as this suspect remains at large we fear the community is at risk.”

Another local report on the October incidents captured the broader mood that can quickly return after any new violent episode:

“It follows a series of unprovoked attacks has left the community feeling unsafe and shaken.”

Police have not linked Monday’s nightclub knife attack to the earlier seawall incidents, and VPD has stated this latest case does not appear random—suggesting a targeted confrontation rather than a stranger assault. Still, residents and nightlife patrons often view these events through a shared lens: concerns about safety in busy entertainment areas, late-night crowd dynamics, and whether violent incidents are becoming more visible in the core.

Statistically, the October 2025 seawall attacks involved seven victims and were concentrated around a different location than Monday’s nightclub call. No public reporting indicates a pattern of violent crime at the specific club or at the Nelson/Hamilton intersection over the past year. Even so, experts and community advocates frequently note that a handful of highly public incidents can have an outsized impact on perceived safety—particularly in dense neighbourhoods where residents, tourists, and nightlife crowds overlap.

What’s Next: Investigation Continues

VPD has not released details about the motive or what led up to the alleged slashing. Investigators have also not said whether the knife was recovered or whether surveillance video is being reviewed, though such steps are typical in nightlife investigations where multiple witnesses and cameras may be present.

Anyone with information about the incident—especially those who were inside or immediately outside the club around 3 a.m.—may be asked to come forward as the case moves through court. With a first appearance expected Monday and a subsequent date set for Jan. 26, 2026, the legal process will determine next steps, including bail conditions and whether the charge proceeds to trial.