1 dead, another seriously injured after 'targeted' shooting in Chilliwack: RCMP

One man is dead and another is seriously injured after a shooting in a Chilliwack cemetery Saturday evening, according to authorities.

Officers responded to reports of shots fired in the city’s Sardis neighbourhood around 7 p.m. and arrived to find one man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced dead.

A second victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries, RCMP said.

Police say a vehicle was seen fleeing the area shortly after the shooting. They say a vehicle meeting that description was later found on fire in Langley.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has been called in to investigate.

Authorities said they believe the shooting is targeted and related to the Lower Mainland gang conflict. They added that there is no ongoing risk to the public.

While the shootings aren't believed to be random, residents in the area say they still feel on edge.

"This is our nightly stroll usually, so it is concerning when the violence comes so close to your house and could impact your family," said Scott Heuitson, who was out walking with his baby and partner Sunday.

Jean and Gary Strahl live just minutes away from where the victim was shot.

"It's a very bizarre area to have something like this happen," said Jean Strahl.

This is the third targeted shooting in the Sardis neighbourhood in the past week. Five minutes down the road from where Saturday's killing took place, a second shooting happened seven days earlier on Peach Road. RCMP confirmed that it was also a gang related killing.

A third shooting happened on Thursday nearly two kilometers away from Saturday's incident. Police haven't said if that one was gang related, but are saying it was targeted.

Linda Annis, the executive director of Crime Stoppers, says the amount of gang violence in B.C. has dramatically increased in the past five years.

"Last year there were 80 attempts at gang homicides,” said Annis, “That is absolutely too many and this year we're right on pace (to match), if not to exceed it.”

“My fear is that an innocent bystander might take a bullet because these guys are being very reckless,” she said.

She says children as young as 10 years old can become a target and groomed to join a gang.

Police remained on scene Sunday morning and are canvassing the area looking for witnesses.

“We’re asking anyone who was in the 44000 block of Watson Road with dash cam video between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. or who may have witnessed the shooting to contact the Chilliwack RCMP immediately,” said Cpl. Martin Godard of the Upper Fraser Valley Region RCMP in a news release. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-4448 or email [e-mail].