Father Fatally Stabbed Outside Vancouver Starbucks After Requesting Attacker to Stop Vaping Near Child

A tragic incident occurred in Vancouver when a 37-year-old father, Paul Stanley Schmidt, was fatally stabbed outside a Starbucks in front of his 3-year-old daughter, Erica, and fiancée, Ashley Umali. According to his family, the attack was provoked when Schmidt asked the assailant not to vape near his child.

The horrifying episode was caught on video and circulated on social media, showing Schmidt being stabbed and collapsing in a pool of blood. Kathy Schmidt, the victim's mother, stated that 32-year-old Inderdeep Singh Gosa carried out the attack after her son requested he not vape near Erica.

The grieving mother expressed her anger and sadness to the Vancouver Sun, saying, "It all started because he was vaping beside the baby. Ashley's in shock - she watched the whole thing. She's so devastated."

Gosa has been charged with second-degree murder, but Kathy Schmidt hopes for the charge to be upgraded to first-degree, which requires evidence of premeditation. She expressed her shock and disappointment over the lack of help her son received during the incident, stating that nobody called for assistance or intervened.

Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Addison told the Vancouver Sun that an officer on patrol was flagged down after the stabbing, which followed a brief altercation. Gosa was arrested without resistance inside the Starbucks.

Investigators are seeking additional witnesses and footage to help determine the motive behind the senseless killing. The spokesman urged people not to share the graphic footage of the attack, instead encouraging them to provide any information or video evidence to the police.

The victim's family also pleaded with the public to stop sharing the chilling video. Jessica Foxx, Schmidt's sister, wrote on Facebook, "I am sick about this. My family is sick about this."

Schmidt had been employed at Jiffy Move, a moving company in Burnaby, for around five years. Sean Collings, the company's operations manager, described him as a "great guy and a hard worker," as well as a devoted husband and father.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnsworth expressed his sympathy for the victim's family and said the police were doing everything possible to investigate the brutal attack.

The victim's mother stated that Umali was devastated by the loss, and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim called the attack a "senseless act." Starbucks Canada representative Leanna Rizzi offered condolences to those affected by the incident and ensured that support was being provided to the store's employees during this difficult time.