Vancouver teen shooting: Arrest made in 2018 killing

A man has been arrested and charged, four years after an innocent 15-year-old boy was shot and killed by a stray bullet in Vancouver.

Twenty-six-year-old Kane Carter was arrested in Ontario Tuesday in connection with the double murder that killed Alfred Wong.

Police believe Carter, who was involved in gang life, was out to shoot a rival who was having dinner at a restaurant near Broadway and Ontario Street in Mount Pleasant on Jan. 13, 2018.

Shots were flying back and forth, when Wong, who was riding in the backseat of his parent’s car, was hit three times. He was placed on life support and died two days later.

On Wednesday, VPD Chief Const. Adam Palmer said Wong loved spending time with his family and “that was what he was doing in the night that he was killed.”

Vancouver police say 23-year-old Kevin Whiteside was the intended target of the shooting. Whiteside was also killed. He is believed to have been a low-level drug dealer.

Another man was grazed by a bullet and was not seriously hurt.

Carter has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault. He is also charged with discharging a firearm with the intent to injure Whiteside.

Wong remembered as promising young athlete, bright student 

When Wong passed away, it was unimaginably painful for his loved ones and the community, Youth Leader Sam Chan told CityNews in 2018. Chan said Wong will be remembered as a bright young man who excelled in school and always wanted to help others.

“Sometimes Alfred could be shy. He was a little bit introverted but when he spoke there was a thoughtfulness to everything he said, and there was a little bit of wit,” he said.

Wong attended Pinetree Secondary in Coquitlam and was a member of the Hyack Swim Club for several years. Head Coach, Frici Laszlo, said the teen formed strong bonds with his teammates.

“He was a very nice boy, a good guy,” Laszlo added. “We’re always waiting for any miracle, but there is no miracle.”

Laszlo said Wong wasn’t just a competitive swimmer, he was also a volunteer lifeguard at another pool.

According to Palmer, Wong also wanted to pursue a career in electronic engineering.

Homicide investigators have met with the Wong family to inform them of the arrest and charges.

In a statement from the VPD, Palmer added a message for people engaged in gang life or criminal activity.

“Your actions have consequences. On January 13, 2018, those actions resulted in the death of a promising young man and forever changed a family that loved him very much.”

Two scholarships have been set up in Wong’s honour. The first one is the Alfred YF Wong Memorial Scholarship, in conjunction with School District 43, to help those who “want to pursue the same dreams and goals as Alfred did.” The second is the Alfred YF Wong Memorial scholarship associated with the Hyack Swim Club.

– With files from Hana Mae Nassar and Sonia Aslam

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