There have now been three shootings in Surrey in only 24 hours and residents are on edge. Police believe all three are targeted.
RCMP are investigating the third incident that happened in the 15900-block of 89A Avenue around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.
WATCH: RCMP investigate string of violent incidents in Surrey
When police arrived on scene they found a man suffering from non-life threatening injuries.
He was taken to hospital.
Police also say a vehicle was shot at in this incident.
This shooting follows another incident in the Clayton Heights area of Surrey at about 7:10 p.m. Tuesday.
Police responded to a shots fired call in the 19200-block of 72nd Avenue. No one was injured in this incident but the initial investigation has revealed occupants of one vehicle were shooting at another vehicle.
The third incident occurred around noon Tuesday in the 7000-block of 180 Street.
RCMP confirm they are investigating reports of shots fired at a townhouse and vehicle.
No one was hit and police have not issued a description of a suspect.
A drive-by shooting also took place in the Clayton Heights area last Friday when shots were fired at a home on 196 Street near 68 Avenue.
Surrey RCMP is still investigating these incidents, conducting neighbourhood canvassing and speaking with witnesses.
Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502. If they wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.
MAP: The location of the shootings in Surrey since Saturday, Aug. 5:
Families shaken up
A resident in the Clayton Heights neighbourhood, who lives just a few blocks away from where two of the three incidents took place, said it was very scary.
Mathew Mosher was enjoying family time with his wife, son, and family friends at Hazelgrove Water Park when one of the shootings took place.
“Someone came into the park screaming that there was a shooting at the 7-Eleven and we should all go home,” said Mosher.
“We packed up our stuff, and we ran straight home.”
LISTEN: Simi Sara talks about latest spree of gun violence in Surrey
He’s now calling on city officials to put more efforts in the Clayton and Cloverdale areas.
“It seems like the Clayton Heights area is lacking in resources from the City of Surrey. All those dollars are being put into Guilford, Newton, and Whalley and crime prevention in those areas and now we’ve got these shootings that’s very concerning because we don’t see police cars very often patrolling the neighbourhood.”
“Outrageous” gun violence
Surrey’s Acting Mayor says it’s going to take all levels of government to curb violence south of the Fraser.
“This particular issue is not just defined in Surrey,” said Councillor Tom Gill.
Gill called for stronger federal efforts on gun control, and said Ottawa also needs to consider stiffer punishments.
“I understand that there’s been a number of individuals that had been put into jail about a year, a year and-a-half ago, that have now subsequently come out,” he said.
“And I find it ironic that this spree of incidents that have been happening, have been happening consistently that these individual have now been released.”
Gill said given the number of incidents in the Clayton neighborhood over the last couple months it is time to talk about redeploying boots in that neighborhood.
The province’s new Public Safety Minister called the string of shots fired incidents “outrageous,” and said he would be meeting with Mounties on Thursday to discuss the issue.
“We want to work with police and communities to make sure that they have the tools that they need in terms of police resources to get the job done,” said Mike Farnworth.
He said a key element of that would be support for gang violence prevention programs, such as the NDP’s election promise to expand the WRAP program that helps at-risk youth.
Police response
Surrey RCMP says as of yet, it hasn’t been able to link the three shots fired incidents, but that it has identified several “persons of interest.”
“The majority of these incidents are targeted and they’re targeted towards those individuals that are involved in criminal activity. So the risk to the general public in that sense is low,” said Assistant Commisioner Dwayne MacDonald, Officer-in-Charge of the Surrey RCMP.
MacDonald says the shootings are primarily linked to the lower level drug trade.
“It’s an important message to get out that if you’re using drugs, even if it’s in a recreational manner, you’re encouraging the services of drug dealers or dial-a-dopers, and you’re inviting the potential for violence into your community.”
Meanwhile, in Abbotsford where there have been a pair of shootings in recent days – one of them fatal – police say they are coordinating with other jurisdictions.
“In live-time, if something happens, it goes out in a bulletin. On top of that, we have integrated units,” said Cst. Ian MacDonald.
“Then there’s ongoing behind-the-scenes work which is crime analysis, and most departments have those units and they are talking all day every day.”
MacDonald said any time there is a spike in violence, police across the region go into a state of heightened awareness.
With files from CKNW’s Emily Lazatin
Comments