A man of no fixed address was severely beaten after being approached by three armed boys between 13 and 14-years-old on the evening of Sunday, Feb. 22, at a bus loop near Port Place Shopping Centre. (Image Credit: Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Highly disturbing

Man attacked by armed 13 and 14-year-old boys in downtown Nanaimo

Feb 23, 2026 | 2:41 PM

NANAIMO — A vulnerable man minding his own business was severely beaten by a pack of armed youths in Nanaimo’s downtown Sunday evening.

The apparent random attack happened at about 6:30 p.m. at a bus exchange on Front St. near Port Place Shopping Centre, according to Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien.

He said three young people, “for unknown reasons”, repeatedly struck the man several times.

Stating the victim had “significant injuries,” O’Brien said he was cared for on scene by BC Ambulance paramedics, and is believed to be unhoused.

Police allege the assailants weren’t done.

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“That same group, with their ages later determined to be between 13 and 14, entered Port Place mall where they allegedly assaulted another person,” O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW.

A security guard then intervened, sending the suspects running out of the shopping centre.

O’Brien said one of the boys was arrested shortly after on Commercial St., while two others got away.

He confirmed a second suspect was arrested Monday afternoon, while police continue looking for the third boy, who has a pending arrest warrant.

A combined 17 charges have been approved by the BC Prosecution Service against them, O’Brien said.

Those charges include assault with a weapon, uttering threats and breaching release conditions.

Several witnesses and area security footage assisted in the ongoing police investigation, O’Brien said.

An airsoft pistol was allegedly in possession of the suspects, while police aren’t releasing the other weapon used.

A second person was assaulted, allegedly by the three youths, inside Port Place Shopping Centre following the bus stop attack. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

This marks the second recent severe alleged incident of violence involving armed youth in Nanaimo.

A boy was shot recently, allegedly by another 15-year-old boy, outside Woodgrove Shopping Centre earlier this month.

A suspect was arrested several days later in Victoria.

“It’s quite troubling to have people of that age involved in such alleged violence, it’s really significant,” O’Brien said. “We want to ensure that downtown is a safe, vibrant place to shop and live and this goes against everything we stand for.”

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