A masked gunman opened fire in a Tim Hortons in downtown Vancouver Tuesday night, apparently targeting a 30-year-old man who was struck multiple times while trying to escape the busy coffee shop.
Police say the shooter entered the franchise location on the corner of Davie and Howe streets at around 7:30 p.m., confronted a Vancouver resident who was sitting by himself, and began shooting.
The victim, who is known to police, got up and tried to avoid the gunfire but was hit "several times," according to Const. Lindsey Houghton.
He was picked up a short distance from the scene and rushed to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The shooting is believed to have been targeted, but police do not yet have a motive for the brazenly public act of violence.
"This is a complete disregard for public safety and it's unacceptable. We understand that people are going to be concerned," Houghton said.
"Tim Hortons is busy 24 hours a day, seven days a week; not only that, but you have pedestrians walking up and down Davie Street… we're very lucky there were no other victims."
The suspect ran out of the coffee shop and into a light brown or gold-coloured SUV that waiting on Howe Street, which then drove off towards the Granville Bridge.
He is described as an adult man at least six-feet-tall with a medium build. He was wearing dark clothing, a ball cap and a scarf over his face.
Anyone who witnessed the shooting and hasn't spoken to investigators, or who has information pertinent to the case is asked to call the Vancouver Police Department's Robbery/Assault Unit at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 if they wish to remain anonymous.
