Four bystanders injured in recent, separate Metro Vancouver shootings

Police say recent shootings in Metro Vancouver in which four bystanders were injured appear to be connected to street-level drug trafficking.

In a statement, Supt. Duncan Pound of B.C.’s anti-gang squad says its investigations into the shootings in Langley, Surrey and Coquitlam — in which one person was killed and the bystanders were hurt — indicate they appear to be connected to the drug trade but not the Lower Mainland gang conflict.

Police don’t believe these incidents are connected. However, Superintendent Duncan Pound says in a statement that this, “doesn’t discount the seriousness of the incidents, as gun violence is completely unacceptable.”

“The disregard for the safety of the public and the police that gun carrying criminals continually show,
highlighted by recent events, is unacceptable and we are doing everything we can to hold those
responsible accountable,” says Supt. Duncan Pound. More on @CityNewsVAN.

— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) January 21, 2022

Operations officer for the RCMP in the Lower Mainland, Chief Superintendent Ghalib Bhayani, says since last April, anti-gang enforcement teams have been expanded and gun violence decreased late last year.

“Since April, many detachments and municipal departments around the Lower Mainland introduced or expanded anti-gang enforcement teams focused on suppression efforts in their respective communities,” he says. “These uniformed teams, continue suppression efforts through targeted enforcement, increased patrols, and shared intelligence. The result is, we’ve been able to mitigate the number of violent acts down from what we were seeing last spring and summer.”

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According to Bhayani, gun violence on the Lower Mainland is experiencing a change as street-level criminals engage in what appears to be interpersonal conflict, “creating violence on our streets.”

Superintendent Duncan Pound adds street-level violence can escalate, drawing in groups that are connected to the gang conflict. But he says police agencies are working together to ensure the violence doesn’t escalate.

Pound is urging those involved in any level of drug dealing or gang-related activity to reach out for help by calling the Gang Intervention and Exiting Team at 604-897-6023.

Mounties also encourage those with information on the recent shootings, or other violent crimes, to call their local police department.