Investigators are trying to piece together a dramatic series of events that began with a double shooting and ended with a serious car crash.
Two men in a white car were shot around 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in Abbotsford. The duo then drove off, running through a red light before slamming into another car. The vehicle had two adults and a child inside.
The crash scattered pieces of both vehicles across the intersection. All three people in the second car received medical treatment: two at the scene and one in hospital, where they stayed overnight for observation.
Meanwhile, the two shooting victims were picked up by a person passing by and taken to hospital. One of the men suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transferred by ambulance to Royal Columbian Hospital with a police escort. Both remain in serious condition.
Officials told CTV Vancouver that one of the men is well known to police and has gang associations.
"We can confirm that this has been a targeted incident involving the gang conflict in the Lower Mainland," Sgt. Judy Bird said Wednesday.
Police are looking for a dark-coloured mid-2000s Ford SUV in connection with the shooting. They are also canvassing nearby businesses for witnesses and surveillance video.
"Many officers are involved with taking witness statements, speaking to people in the area such as at the restaurants in the area, and passersby," Bird said.
Police say it's too early to know if the double shooting is linked to a Monday night murder in Surrey where a man driving an SUV was shot and then crashed into a McDonald's sign. Homicide investigators believe the death of 22-year-old Karanpartap Waraich was not random.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Ben Miljure and Michele Brunoro
