A video of a senior man punching a youth several times in a Saanich Tim Hortons has caught the attention of millions of people online 乌鸦传媒� and Saanich police.
Posted on Instagram June 7, the viral clip shows the man leaning over a youth, who is seated with three others in a booth, delivering several blows.
A person in an orange sweater then walks over, breaking up the confrontation. The edited video then jumps ahead in time and another man is seen slapping the youth and walking away.
乌鸦传媒淒on乌鸦传媒檛 throw food at an old man乌鸦传媒檚 wife in Tim Hortons,乌鸦传媒� says the video乌鸦传媒檚 caption.
Witness and owner of the video Isaac Campbell says he filmed the altercation after he too had food thrown at him by the teenager.
乌鸦传媒淚 walk into Tim Hortons like any other day 乌鸦传媒� and I get a chocolate bar whipped on my head while I'm waiting in line with my girlfriend.
乌鸦传媒淚 could tell the kids were like little hood-rat type kids up to no good.乌鸦传媒�
According to Campbell, the youth and his friends denied throwing the food, laughing at the people who confronted them.
乌鸦传媒淪o I guess that ticked off another guy, and he just smacked the kid upside the head as well,乌鸦传媒� he said.
In a few days, the incident 乌鸦传媒� which occurred at Tim Hortons located at 3501 Ravine Way on April 27 乌鸦传媒� has been viewed over 16 million times, with many comments in full support of the man乌鸦传媒檚 乌鸦传媒榦ld-fashioned lesson in manners乌鸦传媒� for the youth.
乌鸦传媒淕ramps taught the kid more today than his parents did his whole life,乌鸦传媒� said one Instagram user.
乌鸦传媒淲ell, if your parents don乌鸦传媒檛 teach you manners, a grandpa will,乌鸦传媒� said another user.
"These kids are so used to talking smack online and never getting punched in the mouth for it 乌鸦传媒� nice reality check," commented one person.
However, Saanich police are not so impressed.
乌鸦传媒淲e don't encourage anybody to take matters into their own hands,乌鸦传媒� said Insp. Damian Kowalewich, who confirmed an investigation is underway into the incident.
So far, police have spoken to one person involved in the incident, says Kowalewich.
乌鸦传媒淭his matter was not reported to us until very recently 乌鸦传媒� at this point, we're playing catch up,乌鸦传媒� he said.
While it is alleged the confrontation was in retaliation for the youth throwing food at the man乌鸦传媒檚 wife, Kowalewich says police are keeping an open mind as the video only shows a 乌鸦传媒渟mall snippet乌鸦传媒� of what happened overall.
乌鸦传媒淭he truth is, right now we don't know what happened that led up to the situation that you do see on the video,乌鸦传媒� he said.
Any evidence collected will help police determine if criminal charges are warranted, for both parties involved, said Kowalewich.
乌鸦传媒淲e don't endorse violence, and people who do take matters into their own hands can face consequences,乌鸦传媒� said Kowalewich. 乌鸦传媒淭hat being said, looking at what led up to that could also have its own consequences.乌鸦传媒�
At the Ravine Way Tim Hortons, staff and management working June 9 were unaware of the incident or the fact it had garnered internet fame.
Customers, too, were oblivious that they were at the scene of the showdown seen by millions.
One group of seniors, who meet once a month at the branch, was shocked and unimpressed by the actions of the man in the video.
"No one deserves to get hit like that, no matter what they've done," said one customer.
"You should control yourself," added their friend.
Saanich PD is asking anyone who was involved or may have witnessed this incident to come forward. Please call the non-emergency number, 250-475-4321 and indicate you are calling about file #25-10401.