A 28-year-old man remains in hospital in critical condition after being hit by bullets flying during a car chase and shooting that took place through the streets of Williams Lake Saturday night.
Williams Lake RCMP responded to multiple reports of shots fired just after 11 p.m. on Western Avenue where witnesses heard several gunshots and saw one car chasing another at high speeds through the typically quiet residential area.
“It was such an incredibly dangerous thing to do,” RCMP Cpl. Jason Pole said Tuesday of the car chase, which reached speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour and lasted the entire length of Western Avenue at least before spilling out onto Highway 97.
“Witness accounts say the vehicles were almost on top of each other. If someone would have pulled out of an intersection we could have had a multiple fatality. Then you add in a firearm and bullets flying … it was such an incredible risk to the community. It’s a blessing that no one was hit by stray bullets.”
Pole said police were already in the area when the calls came in and they actually witnessed part of the chase, but were only able to stop one of the vehicles involved.
Inside that vehicle, officers found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds.
It is believed the vehicle the victim was a passenger in was being pursued by the second vehicle.
As the chase proceeded through the 900 block of Western Avenue, occupants of the pursuing vehicle fired several shots at the lead vehicle.
Pole said police are still in the early stages of the investigation and they are asking anyone with information, such as the make and model of the second vehicle or possible suspects, to contact the Williams Lake RCMP or Crimestoppers.
“It’s a very active file for us, we have made progress, but we aren’t ready to name any suspects at this point,” Pole said.
“We would encourage anyone with information to come forward.”
This latest violent incident comes less than a week after a 21-year-old man was sent to hospital with stab wounds following an altercation also on Western Avenue early Sunday evening.
Acting Mayor Sue Zacharias said Monday city council believes the Williams Lake RCMP have the investigation well in hand.