North Vancouver RCMP have identified a person of interest in the drive-by egging that left a teen facing potential permanent eye damage.
The incident happened on Monday night around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Highland Boulevard and Belvista Crescent near Canyon Heights Elementary.
Thirteen-year-old Matthys van Bylandt was walking home when someone in a black SUV threw the egg, hitting him in the eye.
The injuries proved very serious. Lions Gate Hospital doctors had him transferred immediately to Vancouver General Hospital to see a specialist. They in turn sent the youth to B.C. Children’s Hospital.
“It was treated very seriously because of the damage to the eye and to the optic nerve. The eggshell literally got into the eye,” said Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman. “One could only imagine what these injuries feel like. We’ve all had objects in our eye but to have an egg crack in your eye socket is very traumatic. (This) tell us it’s a serious offence. It’s assault causing bodily harm. This young man could lose his eyesight.”
As of Thursday morning, following six visits with different specialists in five days, the family was optimistic his eyesight could be saved but he’s under strict doctors’ orders not to do anything that could raise his blood pressure, which could reinjure his pupil.
Doing so would mean a 50 to 75 per cent chance he would lose his vision.
“That’s where the damage has occurred. The bleeding is on the inside of the eye so any kind of increased blood pressure can rupture that, and if it ruptures, then it’s a surgery and it’s other issues,” Matthys’ father Marcus van Bylandt said.
The lad will likely miss out on camping, basketball and other end-of-summer activities while he recovers, and the incident has left some emotional scarring as well, van Bylandt added.
“Matthys is still scared. He’s going to have a different attitude for a period of time and how he feels when he’s out at night, seeing his friends,” he said.
“It’s affected him in greater ways even than the injury.”
Because of widespread media coverage, an individual was identified late Thursday night, De Jong said.
“We’re very encouraged by that,” he said.
The person of interest is 18 years old. The investigation is still in its early stages and there is no word on when charges may be sought.
Van Bylandt said his main interest is making sure that teens know what risks they pose when carrying out so-called harmless pranks.
“It’s more that I want kids to understand and hopefully be reflecting a lot more on what the potential is,” he said.
De Jong said there is been a spate of eggings in the area over the last month, including one also involving a black SUV near Sutherland Secondary Thursday night, all of which were the probably the work of a “serial egger.”
It was troubling that the eggings continued even after Monday’s incident left a boy collapsed on the ground, he added.
Anyone with information about the eggings or potential suspects is asked to contact North Vancouver RCMP.
