Vancouver police expect retaliatory violence after 'chilling' gang shooting in busy area
Vancouver police are bracing for retaliatory violence after two gunmen opened fire on their target in the busy Robson Street shopping district on Easter weekend, sending bystanders running for their lives.
CTV News has obtained video showing two masked men in a white vehicle stop behind a black vehicle and run towards it as they open fire, with the target running away as they continue to shoot at him Saturday afternoon around 5:40 p.m.
“It’s a miracle that no one was injured; it’s a miracle that nobody was killed,” VPD Sgt. Steve Addison told reporters in a briefing on Sunday, acknowledging the video as “chilling” to watch. “We had people running for cover, we had people literally running for their lives.”
Addison says that while investigators have identified the target, they won’t be releasing any information about him except that he was uninjured despite the close proximity to the gunfire, and that they believe he was targeted by the gunmen and is allegedly involved in gang activity.
Two dogs, believed to be the only occupants of the vehicle with the target, were the only reported injuries from the incident.
Vancouver’s mayor was one of thousands of people in the downtown area when the gunmen opened fire, with a Whitecaps game taking place just blocks away at 7 p.m. That event, as well as protests and the usual Saturday night crowd in the Granville entertainment district, meant there were extra police on hand to respond quickly to the shooting.
“We have a lot to work with here: lots of witnesses, lots of bystander video, lots of information to work with,” said Addison, adding that they expect the incident to fit into the pattern of the years-long Lower Mainland gang conflict. “It’s very likely that there is going to be some kind of retaliatory incident coming in the near future, whether that comes in Vancouver or somewhere else.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.