One week after two shooting incidents rocked Burnaby, the public is learning more about the background of Angus David Mitchell.
Mitchell, 26, was shot and killed May 30 in Maple Ridge after he was confronted by police.
Mitchell is alleged to be involved in the May 27 Royal Oak Sushi House shooting that claimed the life of 36-year-old owner Huong "Andy" Tran and 34-year-old single mother Chinh "Vivian" Diem Huynh, and the May 29 Gilpin Crescent shooting where Mitchell's former landlord was shot, but survived.
On Friday, RCMP integrated homicide investigation team spokesperson Sgt. Jennifer Pound confirmed that forensic examination of the weapon seized from Mitchell during the May 30 standoff was the weapon used in the double homicide and also the one used in Gilpin Crescent shooting.
"While these details certainly suggest Mitchell was the shooter in both Burnaby cases, it does not mean the investigations are concluded," said Pound. "IHIT investigators will continue to work long hours to ensure they have collected as much relevant evidence as possible. Only when all of the evidence has been collected will IHIT comment on the identity of the shooter in the double homicide. No motive has yet been established for this tragic event."
On Saturday, Mitchell's family released a statement, through the Vancouver Police Department, expressing their thoughts.
"The family of Angus Mitchell wishes to express our extreme sorrow and heartfelt sympathies to the families of Chinh Diem Huynh and Huong Tran.
"Their deaths were truly senseless. We cannot begin to describe the horror we felt upon learning of Angus's involvement in this tragedy.
"Our thoughts are also with Angus's former landlord, who we hope recovers fully from his injuries.
"The family thanks the members of the media for respecting our wish for privacy at this difficult time."
Mitchell had worked for various security firms in the province and according to recent Facebook postings, he was unhappy.
For example, a May 4 Facebook rant about colleagues at Themis Security Services, a Victoria company he had worked for, called one an "insignificant lowly little punk who masquerades as a successful person."
After the Gilpin Crescent shooting, employees at Themis were warned by police to stay aware in case Mitchell turned his attention to them.
Also revealed was that sometime last year, Mitchell had a run-in with an officer from the Vancouver police that led the 26-year-old to file a complaint with the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner.
That complaint was still active when Mitchell traded gunfire with RCMP in Maple Ridge on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Vancouver police Const. Lindsey Houghton confirmed with the Vancouver Province that the file is still active and in the hands of the OPCC, who will have the final say on whether they will proceed with the case or dismiss it.
Houghton said the incident happened about a year ago and was formally filed "earlier this year."
On Friday, the Vancouver Sun revealed that Victoria police had seized a firearm from Mitchell in February after he was arrested under the Mental Health Act.
Mitchell had taken his gun to a medical clinic in Saanich and made veiled threats.
He was released with no charges. Police returned the gun to him several weeks later without anyone making an application to court to have his firearms licence revoked.
Vancouver Police Department media spokesperson Const. Jana McGuinness confirmed with the Vancouver Sun that Victoria police have asked VPD to review how the gun seizure and subsequent return was handled.
"The firearm was seized during a Mental Health Act apprehension. The review by Vancouver police will also examine whether [that] firearm is connected to the recent tragic incidents involving Mr. Mitchell," McGuinness said.
Victoria police had contacted the RCMP's National Weapons Enforcement Support Team to find out the process for applying to revoke Mitchell's gun licence.
The Victoria Police Department was told it didn't have enough evidence at the time, but should follow up with interviews of clinic staff members, as well as Mitchell's Victoria neighbours and former co-workers to see if there were grounds to apply to the court to keep the gun.
Police in Victoria have not disclosed what officers did to investigate Mitchell's suitability to get his gun back, but the firearm was returned without the matter being heard in court.
The earlier Victoria incident occurred at the Uptown Medical Clinic in Saanich on Feb. 7 when Mitchell arrived, toting a rifle case, to see his doctor.
He was allowed to go into his appointment, but was told to leave the case in the lobby.
"There was an implied threat rather than a direct threat," Dr. Ian Bridger told the Victoria Times Colonist. "It was felt to be inappropriate."
Mitchell left the clinic and staff called Saanich police. The gunman was arrested under the Mental Health Act by Victoria police and his rifle was seized.
Mitchell was exhibiting unstable and aggressive behaviour for months before he was killed this week, according to former co-workers and employers.
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