Two shootings in B.C.’s Lower Mainland likely related to gang conflict, police say

Mounties are looking into whether two early morning crime scenes and shootings in B.C.’s Lower Mainland are linked.

Officers were called to North Road and Cottonwood Avenue, along the Coquitlam and Burnaby border, after receiving calls about a shooting around 12:30 a.m. on Monday, Burnaby RCMP said.

When they arrived, they found a 21-year-old Vancouver man who had been shot several times. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and is not cooperating with investigators, police said.

Witnesses told officers that the gunfire seemed to come from a “white coupe vehicle,” police said.

1:37 RCMP probing two crime scenes after possible shooting in Burnaby

Around 2:30 a.m., police were called to a second shooting in the 3200-block of Smith Avenue on the other side of Burnaby.

Officers arrived to find a “white crossover-type” vehicle driving off and went after it, but stopped when it reached speeds of more than 160 km/h out of concern for public safety, police said.

A short time later, a 25-year-old Surrey man arrived at a hospital with gunshot wounds, police said, and he is also not cooperating.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the two incidents are linked, but police said they believe the shootings are related to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.

Police are continuing to speak to witnesses to get a firm description of those involved. Anyone who witnessed the incidents is asked to contact the Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).