a beloved chef of a prominent downtown restaurant is being mourned tonight the 32-year-old man was stabbed to death early yesterday near Chinatown his friends and co-workers have now gathered at the scene near Union and Main Street that's also where we find our Janella Hamilton so Janella what more do we know about the victim well Tanya we know the victim's name is wataru kakoi and he was a popular uh chef at a restaurant called haa ezekiah in Yale toown uh tonight his co-workers and close friends gathered for an informal vigil laying flowers and sharing a moment of silence here at Union and Main Street where the 32-year-old was stabbed and killed early Wednesday his friends tell me he was kind funny always lifting people's Spirits he had a personality and a smile that lit up the room and for many he was like an older brother he was also a talented musician who loved to play guitar often jamming out at staff parties or with co-workers at the end of a long shift at work and at the beach on his days off I don't no everything you know thinking thinking thinking but I don't know why why what other he's so perfect now what what more do we know about the attack itself Janella have police revealed a motive or any possible suspects no on both fronts Tanya we also don't know the circumstances around the killing whether it was a random attack or if those involved knew each other what we do know is kakiuchi was out with some co-workers in Gast Town Tuesday night and was believed to be on his way home when he was stabbed to death in light of this tragedy officers have ramped up Patrols in the neighborhood and they're asking anyone with information or dash cam footage to contact them in the meantime Vancouver mayor Ken Sim has put out a statement offering condolences to the victim's families and friends he describes kakuchi as a beloved member of the city and a victim of Senseless violence we also spoke with the owner of Hapa isaka restaurant who says the young man was an upbeat hardworking uh worker he had been working with the restaurant since 2015 after he moved to Canada from Japan which is where his family is still located it's it's just one of those wrong place wrong time but it it could happen anywhere uh and fortunately happened here and to our guy but uh he loved the city for a reason and uh he says kakuchi was between work permits but had planned to return to the restaurant as a chef which with plans to stay in Canada permanently for now Tanya lots of questions that still haven't been answered all right thank you so much Janella our Janella Hamilton reporting live from Chinatown tonight