VANCOUVER -- Mounties in Surrey are investigating after an early morning shooting in the city's Newton neighbourhood left a man in critical condition in hospital Saturday.
Officers were called to the 5800 block of 129 Street shortly before 3 a.m. after receiving reports of a break-in and shooting in the area, according to a news release from Surrey RCMP.
Police said they found a 67-year-old man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital, where he remains in critical, but stable condition, according to police.
The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived, police said, describing him as a tall, skinny man who was wearing a black shirt and black pants.
Surrey RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Elenore Sturko said police received a call about the incident as it was unfolding, but refused to say whether the call came from the victim or another occupant of the house. She cited safety concerns as the reason police did not want to share information about who was in the house at the time of the shooting.
Investigators from the Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit are working to determine if the shooting was targeted and if the person who was shot was the intended victim, police said. They added that the victim is not known to police.
Asked whether the shooting could have been a case of mistaken identity, Sturko said she didn't want to speculate.
"We haven't yet been able to have sufficient evidence that would show it to be a targeted incident or whether this person was the intended target," she said. "More work is being done in that area and we will update the public once we have that information confirmed."
Sturko said a police dog and handler were called to the scene to try to track the suspect, but they were unable to establish a complete trail for him. Police are unsure whether there was a vehicle involved in the suspect's departure, she said, encouraging anyone who witnessed the incident or has surveillance from the area to contact police.
Surrey RCMP ask anyone with information related to the incident to call them at 604-599-0502. Tips can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
