Surrey RCMP are investigating a shooting incident that resulted in a man being taken to hospital Monday afternoon.
It was Surrey’s third shooting in as many days and the 31st shooting of the year.
Mounties went to the area of 86A Avenue and 140th Street after receiving several reports of shots being fired. After arriving at the scene, police found one man suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
No one is in custody and police have not provided a description of the suspect.
The investigation is in its early stages, but police say initial indications suggest this was a targeted shooting.
This latest incident brings the total number of reported shootings in Surrey to 31 this year. Days earlier, Surrey RCMP revealed the majority of shootings in 2016 are being caused by new players in a drug war.
One expert believes the situation will continue to deteriorate.
“It has to get worse before it stops,” said Rob Gordon, a criminology professor at SFU. “That’s the pattern.”
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“I’m kind of embarrassed to be living in Surrey right now,” Doug Elford of the Newton Community Association said. “We’re back to being the running joke.”
Gun violence in Surrey is not letting up despite the addition of nearly 100 RCMP officers.
“People are fearful,” Elford said. “They’re frustrated. They’re angry that this has continued on. Do we really need the RCMP or should we be looking at a different model like a municipal police force?”
Last year Arun Bains was shot and killed. His uncle, Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains, is calling on the provincial government to do more.
“How many shootings, how many deaths will it take for this government to take this issue seriously and take some action that is effective?” asked Bains in the legislature.
After three shootings in as many days, Surrey residents are now left to anticipate when the next act of violence in their city might occur.
“As these shootings increase in intensity and in number, people feel increasingly uncertain about whether they want to live in an area like that,” Gordon said.
– With files from Catherine Urquhart and Aaron McArthur
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