Canada: Multiple killed in shooting spree targeting homeless people in British Columbia

Highlights Multiple people were killed in multiple shootings in the Metro Vancouver city of Langley

Police said that the killings happened in a shooting spree targeting homeless people

Police issued a cellphone alert to area residents at about 6:30 a.m

Canada news: Multiple people were killed in multiple shootings in the Metro Vancouver city of Langley on Monday in British Columbia, Canada. Police said that the killings happened in a shooting spree targeting homeless people.

Police added that most of the shootings are in the downtown core of Langley and there is one report in Langley Township. They issued a cellphone alert to area residents at about 6:30 a.m. Monday, telling them to avoid the area.

After the shooting began, ambulances and police vehicles converged at a mall. The area was cordoned off with yellow police tape and a major intersection was closed. A black tent was set up over one of the crime scenes.

An unmarked police SUV at one of the shooting scenes had at least seven bullet holes in the windshield and one through the driver’s window.

Police issued a cellphone alert about 6:30 a.m., telling people to avoid the area and describing the suspected shooter. Another alert later said that the suspect was in custody and was believed to be solely responsible for the attacks.

A homicide team confirmed on social media that its investigators deployed to Langley to help.

Mass shootings are less common in Canada than in the United States. The deadliest gun rampage in Canadian history happened in 2020 when a man disguised as a police officer shot people in their homes and set fires across the province of Nova Scotia, killing 22 people.

The country overhauled its gun-control laws after an attacker named Marc Lepine killed 14 women and himself in 1989 at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique college.

It is now illegal to possess an unregistered handgun or any kind of rapid-fire weapon in Canada. To purchase a weapon, the country also requires training, a personal risk assessment, two references, spousal notification and criminal record checks.

jphamlore on July 25th, 2022 at 17:32 UTC »

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/langley-shootings-emergency-alert-1.6530983

"We do have a male suspect in custody. However, we are ruling out any other outstanding individuals before we stand the emergency alert down," said Langley RCMP Sgt. Rebecca Parslow.

Parslow said there were several victims, but did not specify how many. She said the victims were homeless and that police believe the attack was targeted.

At least one person has died, as the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is responding to the incident.

Police have established several crime scenes just a few kilometres apart: one at Willowbrook Mall, another at Cascades Casino on Fraser Highway and a third near a thrift store and bus loop at Logan Avenue and Glover Road.

Jufloz on July 25th, 2022 at 16:32 UTC »

One man was arrested, it was believed he was with someone but acted alone. The victims were homeless people living around the area.

Edit: correction, suspect was killed by the RCMP

Two victims also have been confirmed dead

Other victims are in critical condition in the hospital.

Fthewigg on July 25th, 2022 at 15:42 UTC »

The article doesn’t have any kind of details. I’m left wondering if there was more than one perp.

Edit: I’m not being critical, it’s still super early in the investigation. This takes time. I’m saying from the wide broad strokes, this smacks of a coordinated assault to me and it’s so incredibly fucking sad.