Victim in North Vancouver shooting identified

Investigators have identified in victim in Tuesday’s daytime shooting in North Vancouver as 32-year-old Ngoc Mai (Anita) Nguyen.

The Integrated Homicide investigation Team (IHIT) says RCMP responded to reports of gunfire in the 1100-block of Lonsdale Avenue around 11:30 a.m., and found Nguyen suffering from gunshot wounds.

Nguyen was taken to hospital and placed on life support after suffering what police say are “non-survivable injuries.”

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Investigators believe the shooting was targeted and they are working to determine a motive.

Nguyen’s friend Diana Paredes said she was shocked and saddened by the news.

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“She just seemed like she was happy,” Paredes said of Nguyen, who is the mother of a young daughter. “I thought she was living the life, you know. It was shocking to me.”

Police say they have no reason to believe the shooting was related to drugs or gangs.

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Nguyen had interactions with police in the past, but Cpl. Frank Jang of IHIT said “very few were negative in nature.”

Paredes said Nguyen had to overcome struggles in the past but it’s unclear whether those past situations are a factor in what’s happening now.

“I know some other people that tried to help her out, get out of rough spots in her life and she was able to get out of an abusive relationship.”

It’s believed Nguyen worked at a food prep business called Feed Me Fit, located on the same block where the shooting occurred. The business was closed the day of the shooting.

A witness, who asked not to be identified out of fear of retaliation, told Global News he heard three gunshots and saw the victim in the alley behind the Freemason’s building.

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He said he saw a dark Dodge SUV with no front licence plate being driven away from the scene by a man in a hoodie.

Local business owner Dawn Blaschuck said she was shocked by the shooting.

“You know, it’s the medical district, it’s sleepy North Van,” she said.

“Never near my business or my home have I ever had anything like that happen. We still leave our door unlocked.”

The incident took place in a central urban area, with several fitness centres, health-care offices and a Salvation Army nearby.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the attack to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) if they wish to remain anonymous.

— With files from Simon Little