Despite three shootings in a little more than a month, including a targeted attack that left a man with critical injuries, there’s nothing at this point to suggest a new outbreak of gang violence in Burnaby, according to the province’s anti-gang agency.
Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit Sgt. Lindsey Houghton noted in the recent case, local RCMP haven’t asked for the unit’s help, adding the general gang situation in Burnaby has been the same for several years.
He said shootings are typically viewed as crimes of opportunity, and the people carrying them out don’t care about borders.
“People need to understand, especially in the Lower Mainland, the way the gang landscape works, there are no jurisdictional boundaries to it,” he told the NOW. “It’s like a big giant map with no municipal borders.”
Houghton explained the gang landscape has also changed dramatically since the late 2000s, when there was a two-sided gang war playing out.
He said there are still several groups fighting, but higher level organizations like Hells Angels and Red Scorpions, and what’s left of the United Nations gang are trying to insulate themselves from what’s happening on the street.
Houghton noted the majority of violence is taking place at street level over things like dial-a dope operations.
Meanwhile, more details are emerging about Monday night’s shooting.
Burnaby RCMP were called out after receiving numerous reports of shots being fired in the 7700 block of 12th Avenue at around 8:30 p.m.
When police arrived, they found a man with gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and is recovering from non-life threatening injuries.
Burnaby RCMP Sgt. Derek Thibodeau said witnesses described the alleged suspect, a Caucasian man dressed in all black, running from the scene to a waiting, dark-coloured vehicle with a roof rack. He noted there was one other person in the vehicle when it sped from the area.
Investigators believe the shooting is targeted, but determining the motive remains part of the investigation. No one else was injured in the shooting, and police continue to investigate the incident.
There have been a number of shootings around Burnaby in recent months.
Just two weeks ago, shots were fired in the 7200 block of Arcola Street.
Police said at the time of the Aug. 11 incident, two men were involved in an altercation before the shooting. There was evidence that someone was possibly injured, but a victim never turned up. A third person, possibly a woman, might be involved but that was never confirmed by police.
In mid-July, police were called to the 7000 block of Linden Avenue at 6 p.m. after a single shot was fired between two vehicles. No one was injured in the incident.
A month earlier in June, RCMP were called out to the 3900 block of Forest Street at sundown after shots rang out on the residential street.
A man was found shot, and after being helped by bystanders in the area, he was taken to hospital where he died.
The man was identified
as Christopher Alexander Serrano, 29, of Coquitlam. He also used the last name of Hurtado.
Thibodeau said the police are always concerned when shots are being fired on the streets.
“Part of the investigation is to see if there is causal-link between any of the shootings,” he told the NOW, following the most recent shooting.
RCMP are asking anyone with information, including possible surveillance video, to contact the local detachment at 604-294-7922.
