UBC sexual assault suspect David Singh Tucker dies at Surrey Pretrial Centre
A man charged in relation to a violent sexual assault on the UBC campus has died while in custody of the provincial Corrections Service.
The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed that David Singh Tucker, 28, died at the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre late on July 24 and was found by staff early July 25.
Coroners service spokeswoman Barb McLintock said the cause and manner of Tucker's death were under investigation.
B.C. Corrections confirmed the death and expressed condolences for Tucker's family.
"Any custody-related death is a tragedy, and I can assure you that each and every one is taken extremely seriously," said spokeswoman Amy Lapsley.
"We are conducting a critical incident review to investigate the circumstances, relevant history, and possible contributing factors preceding this death, to make recommendations that may reduce the likelihood of similar incident in the future."
Tucker and 23-year-old Yuan Zhi Gao, the co-accused in the case, were both charged in May with one count of breaking and entering.
Tucker was also charged with three counts each of:
- Sexual assault with a weapon.
- Forcible confinement.
- Robbery.
He had also been charged with one count of wearing a mask with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Gao was granted bail in May after posting a $50,000 bond with conditions that included not going west of Blenheim Street, onto the UBC Campus or Endowment Grounds.
He was also banned from having contact with the alleged victims or Tucker.
The pair were arrested in May outside an apartment on Birney Avenue near Wesbrook Mall on the UBC campus.
At the time, RCMP said the victims and suspects did not know each other.
