Members of Surrey’s Neighbourhood Incident Response Support Team will meet with Fraser Heights residents Thursday as investigators continue to piece together a Tuesday shooting that’s left two men injured and a community reeling.
Thomas Gabriel Saul has been identified as one of the men wounded when someone opened fire at a Chrysler around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, sending the car crashing into a fence just a few feet from a home.
Police took the rare step of releasing Saul’s picture on Wednesday, urging the public and associates to stay away from the 35-year-old, who they allege has ties to drug trafficking in the Lower Mainland and out of province.
Surrey RCMP say Saul had also been targeted in a shooting in Burnaby just over two weeks ago.
"He has been spoken to by investigators, and, although his life is in danger, he has provided very limited information to police," Surrey RCMP said in a news release.
According to police, Saul is from New Westminster.
A man with the same name and age has faced several charges across Metro Vancouver the over the past 10 years, including assault, possession of a firearm and numerous driving offences.
In 2016, a Thomas Saul was also charged with several drug offences tied to what police describe as an organized crime group known as the "Surrey Boys."
During raids in Grande Prairie more than $55,000 in cash along with drugs and guns were seized. Four people, including a Thomas Saul, were charged.
Police said at the time they believed the group was operating in Grande Prairie but connected to a larger organized crime group in the Lower Mainland.
Search for shooter
Days after the shooting, police are still searching for a suspect. On Thursday, authorities also released surveillance images of a suspect vehicle described as a black Dodge Journey, and asked anyone with information on the SUV to come forward.
In the meantime, the Neighbourhood Incident Response Support Team is being sent to the Fraser Heights Village Centre, not far from the shooting scene, on Thursday between 4 and 7 p.m. to speak with residents impacted by the shooting.
"When a neighbourhood experiences a traumatic incident, particularly during daytime hours, we know that people can have questions around safety," said a police handout about the event being distributed in Fraser Heights.
"The Surrey RCMP will be in your neighbourhood Thursday to talk to local residents about their concerns."
Victim Services workers will also be at the event to provide support.
Surrey RCMP say people living in the area of 160 Street and 111 Avenue where the shooting happened may see an increased police presence over the coming days as investigators continue to piece together what happened.
