Pubdate: Tue, 05 Apr 2016
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Kim Bolan
Page: A4

MORE ACTION NEEDED ON GUN VIOLENCE: MLA

As Opposition MLAs grilled B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Morris in 
question period Monday about escalating gun violence, Surrey RCMP was 
responding to the 31st shooting of 2016.

And Burnaby RCMP announced that homicide investigators were being 
called in after the body of a shooting victim was discovered on Byrne 
Creek Trail.

Surrey MLA Bruce Ralston said police are not doing enough to tackle 
the violence, which is linked to Metro Vancouver's drug trade.

"They are not solving these cases. The violence is accelerating," 
Ralston said in an interview. "That's what people are really worried 
about. It's not just a low-level background noise. It is a major 
ongoing threat to public safety in neighbourhoods in Surrey and in 
Burnaby, for that matter."

Since senior Surrey Mounties told reporters Friday that they had 
implemented successful strategies to combat the violence, there have 
been three more incidents of public gunplay. The latest came just 
before 2 p.m. Monday near 86th Avenue and 140th Street. Cpl. Scotty 
Schumann said officers responded to 911 calls and found "evidence of 
shots being fired in the area and a male suffering from a gunshot wound.

"The male was taken to local hospital with what is believed to be 
non-life threatening injuries," Schumann said. "Initial indications 
are that this is a targeted incident."

The Monday shooting follows two others over the weekend, one of which 
left a man with serious injuries.

There were 60 shootings in Surrey in all of 2015.

Meanwhile the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team was called to 
the 7300-block of Sandborne Avenue in Burnaby after a body was found Monday.

Burnaby RCMP said officers responded to the area about 8 p.m. Sunday 
after reports of shots fired.

"When members arrived on scene they began a search of the area 
including the Byrne Creek Trail that continued until the following 
morning. Police confirm a body has now been located," Sgt. Derek 
Thibodeau said.

"We do not believe this incident is connected to any other ongoing 
Burnaby RCMP investigation."

Ralston said the RCMP should be asked hard questions about their 
tactics in investigating the shootings and murders.

"Have they drawn on any of the national resources? Have they asked 
for alternate investigative techniques? Have they conducted a 
management review or an internal audit of the work on these 
particular investigations?" he said. "The potential for all kinds of 
people to be caught in the crossfire ... it is just very, very 
worrisome and disturbing."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom