Three people are in custody and police are continuing to investigate following a shooting and vehicle chase earlier today, which resulted in three Prince George schools going into a 'hold and secure' emergency procedure.
At 11:37 a.m. today (Thursday, Oct. 8), the Prince George RCMP began receiving multiple reports of shots fired on Bellos Street. Witnesses reported that occupants in a vehicle pulled up to a specific residence, opened fire towards the residence, and fled seconds after.
Multiple frontline officers were immediately directed towards the scene. While en route, the suspect vehicle was observed travelling at a high rate of speed away from the scene.
Police say due to a high level of concern for public safety, officers engaged in a brief pursuit. The suspect vehicle collided with a curb and through a fence, before coming to a stop in the front yard of a residence at the corner of 10 Avenue and McBride Crescent.
Three occupants of the vehicle then fled on foot.
Two suspects were arrested almost immediately after fleeing the vehicle and about five minutes after the original shots fired call to police. The third suspect was not immediately located.
A Police Dog Service team was called in to assist with the search. The suspect was tracked to a hiding spot very close to where the vehicle came to a rest. Police say the suspect was transported to hospital for treatment on minor bite wounds.
Two firearms were seized in close proximity to the vehicle.
Duchess Park Secondary School was advised to activate a 'hold and secure' emergency procedure and recall students back into the school during the lunch period.
School Distrcit No. 57 (SD57) also placed D.P. Todd Secondary, and Heritage Elementary Schools, located near Bellos Street, in a 'hold and secure' during the incident.
The three suspects, a 40-year-old male, a 34-year-old male and a 31-year-old male, will be held in custody overnight and will attend court tomorrow. All three are residents of Prince George and well known to police.
This incident was targeted and directly related to the ongoing conflict between rival drug trafficking groups. This is the third shooting incident on Bellos Street in less than three weeks and second today.
Around 12:30 a.m., police received reports of shots fired near Bellos Street, Mounties then confirmed the reports following an investigation that included a Police Dog Service team.
The incident was also believed to be targeted. The suspects fled before police arrived on scene and the three adults inside a home were not injured.
If you have any information about violence related to the drug trade or the persons responsible, please contact the Prince George RCMP at (250)561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-8477 or online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.
