Good Samaritan among 2 victims stabbed at Newmarket restaurant

A 40-year-old Newmarket man has been charged in connection to attempted murders at a restaurant on Oct. 13 at 9 p.m.

York Regional Police responded to reports of a stabbing inside a restaurant at Davis Drive and Longford Drive. Officers found a man outside of the restaurant and two victims with stab wounds near the entrance, a police news release stated.

Officers learned a man attacked a 34-year-old man with a knife inside the restaurant, while a second victim, a 68-year-old man, tried to stop the attack but was stabbed multiple times. The victim’s cellphone was stolen.

The altercation moved into the parking lot, where citizens intervened and restrained the suspect until police arrived.

Both stabbing victims had non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Fabian Michael Vassell, 40, of Newmarket, was charged with two counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for committing an offence, mischief to property, and theft under $5,000.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police District 1 Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7141, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.