Homicide investigators were deployed to Chilliwack Tuesday morning following a shooting near a downtown car wash.
Chilliwack RCMP confirmed the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was sent to the location after a 27-year-old male was taken to hospital.
He was not expected to survive his injuries.
IHIT said the victim in the incident was likely targeted.
“The victim in this case was known to police,” said Cst. Harrison Mohr with IHIT. “This appears to have been a targeted shooting, although our investigators are still looking into whether the victim had any direct connections to gangs or the drug trade. We have no reason to believe the general public is at risk.”
Chilliwack RCMP responded to a report of an assault with a weapon just after midnight on Oct. 22 in the area of Yale Road and Fletcher Street in downtown Chilliwack near Ruth & Naomi’s Mission. They found the 27-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was taken to a regional hospital by ambulance, where he was put on life support, police said.
“He is not expected to survive his injuries.”
A forensic identification unit was on the scene Tuesday morning poring over the street for evidence. Assisted by the Chilliwack Fire Department, one officer was looking on roof tops nearby.
There is no suspect in custody.
Police are not releasing the name of the victim as they only usually do so when they are seeking specific information from the public.
If the male does die, the incident represents the fourth homicide of 2019 in Chilliwack. Christine Denham was killed in an alleged domestic homicide on Feb. 26. Stanny Carr was shot in a vehicle on Woodbine Street in August 2018 but died of her injuries on March 6. And James Vidal was shot and killed on Alexander Avenue on March 10.
There has so far only been one arrest in any of the four killings. Shane Travis Hughes is still before the courts facing one count of second-degree murder for killing Denham in a house on Victor Street.
• READ MORE: Man charged with murder of Christine Denham in Chilliwack
• READ MORE: IHIT now on case of woman shot seven months ago in Chilliwack
• READ MORE: IHIT identify Chilliwack homicide victim as James Vidal
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact IHIT’s information line at 1-877-551-4448 or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
At the scene of #Chilliwack’s fourth homicide of 2019 at the corner of Margaret and Fletcher. A 20-year-old assaulted with a weapon, not expected to survive. IHIT en route. pic.twitter.com/lQLZD6O2oH
— Paul J. Henderson (@PeeJayAitch) October 22, 2019
@PeeJayAitch
paul.henderson@theprogress.com
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