Williams Lake is dealing with the first major crime of 2016 just two days into the new year.
Two men were taken to hospital Saturday evening suffering from gunshot wounds following a targeted shooting that took place on city streets.
Glendale residents reported hearing what sounded like fire crackers going off before seeing vehicles flee the scene in the 3000 block of Mackenzie Avenue near Maple Street.
“The scene occurred outside — there was an altercation and two males were shot,” said Inspector Milo MacDonald of the Williams Lake RCMP detachment Monday.
Police responded to the call of gunshots being fired at about 4:57 p.m. Jan. 2 and found the two males had been shot, one possibly suffering life threatening injuries and the other with minor injuries.
A GoFundMe Page has been set up for one of the shooting victims. It states the victim is currently stable after one surgery but has been transferred out of the lakecity for further medical care.
On the site, his wife is asking everyone to send their positive thoughts and to “please stop the violence.”
MacDonald stopped short of calling this latest incident gang violence, however, he did acknowledge the growing number of crimes that appear to be retaliatory in nature.
“I think there is a pattern of violence (here) between persons who know one another,” MacDonald said.
In May of 2014 Corey Huu Le, also known as Corey Porter, was shot and killed outside his home on the corner of 11th Avenue and 12th Avenue. His murder remains unsolved.
In June of 2015 one person was shot and sustained critical injuries in a car chase and shooting that took place along Western Avenue. No one has been charged in the crime.
On Jan. 2 of 2015 the body of Jesse (Delmer) Frank, 22, was discovered on the ice below the Rudy Johnson Bridge. No one has been charged in the murder of Frank. A one-year anniversary memorial service was scheduled to take place this week.
MacDonald said he believes the key to reducing these types of violent crimes is through the prolific offender program, which targets repeat offenders with extra policing and resources.
By identifying the small number of offenders in the community who are capable of such violent acts, MacDonald said officers can focus their efforts on tracking and investigating those individuals when they are out in the community.
“We are going to do everything we can to bring the perpetrator of this violent crime to justice and continue to focus on investigating our prolific offenders.”
MacDonald is also urging the public to come forward with any information they may have on this incident, including businesses in the area equipped with surveillance cameras that point onto the street in the 3000 block of Mackenzie Avenue.
Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Williams Lake RCMP at 250-392-6211 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.