Man dies of injuries after 3rd shooting in 3 days in Coquitlam, B.C.
A 21-year-old man is dead after a daytime shooting in Coquitlam, B.C., on Saturday, according to police — the third reported shooting in as many days within a small area of the Metro Vancouver city.
Coquitlam RCMP said in a statement they received a report of a shooting near Glen Drive and Westwood Street shortly after 4 p.m. PT Saturday.
"Frontline officers attended the scene and located one man suffering from life-threatening injuries," the statement read. "The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries."
RCMP said the victim was from Coquitlam, but would not identify him to respect his family's wishes.
RCMP say the shootings are all targeted and involve the same group of people, but say it's too early to know whether or not they may be connected to the Lower Mainland gang conflict. (Shane MacKichan)
Police earlier said two suspects were seen running from the scene of the shooting.
Photos and video of the scene reviewed by CBC News show police tape and vehicles blocking the driveway of a multi-unit residence near the 3700-block of Primrose Lane. At least one other location on a neighbouring street was surrounded by police tape and pylons.
Anyone with information on the shooting, which is now being investigated by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, is asked to call police.
2 other nearby shootings
The shooting follows two others since last Thursday in the same "tight" area, RCMP Cpl. Alexa Hodgins said in an interview Saturday night.
On Thursday, police responded after multiple reports of shots fired at a vehicle and suspects brandishing a firearm near Johnson Street and Glen Drive, about a kilometre west of Saturday's shooting.
Two suspects were located and no injuries have been reported, according to an RCMP release on Thursday.
On Friday, RCMP were called to a reported shooting near David Avenue and Mitchell Street, about four kilometres northeast of Thursday's incident, around 10:30 p.m. PT.
No one was injured, RCMP said in a statement on Friday night.
Coquitlam RCMP are asking anyone with information or dashcam footage of the areas around any of the shootings to contact police. (Shane MacKichan)
It's too early to say whether the shootings are related to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict, Hodgins said.
"We are actively investigating any avenue, which could potentially mean that these shootings are all linked together," she said.
Coquitlam RCMP Insp. Darren Carr said the incidents are "targeted and involving a small group of individuals."
"We understand that these last three days have been incredibly stressful to the community and we want to assure the public that our officers are working tirelessly to advance all of these investigations," he said in a Saturday news release. "Public safety is our top priority."
Anyone with information or dashcam footage of any of the areas around the shootings is asked to contact RCMP.
