One man was hospitalized in serious condition after what police are calling a targeted shooting in Surrey on Saturday night.
Surrey RCMP responded to a report of several shots fired at 122nd Street and 92nd Avenue around 8 p.m. near an elementary school where Nester Kichamu and his friend were playing.
“We were so scared, we didn't know what was happening,” Kichamu told CTV News.
According to police, a vehicle was seen fleeing the area shortly after the shooting. The victim, who managed to get himself to Surrey Memorial Hospital, suffered a non life-threatening injury.
Police do not yet have a suspect vehicle description but will be speaking to witnesses and people in the neighbourhood.
This is Surrey’s 29th shooting of the year. On Friday police said some of the incidents stem from a new drug-related conflict between two groups.
“While we're dealing with new situations and different people this year, the majority of this year's incidents continues to involve those associated to the illegal drug trade,” said Surrey RCMP Supt. Manny Mann.
NDP MLA Sue Hammell said this is the second shooting in her neighbourhood in the past year, and the violence is affecting the community’s freedom.
“At some point it just is ridiculous,” she said. “There is a tension and people are frightened. They don't go out at night like they used to.”
Hammell believes the RCMP need to step up and do more to engage the community.
“Certainly I don't think they're doing enough... and we're on the path of having more shootings than last year,” she said.
Anyone with information who has not already spoken to police is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or contact www.solvecrime.ca.
With a report from CTV's Michele Brunoro
