It’s been determined that three of the four Prince George shootings that took place last week are all connected to rival groups involved in the local drug trade.
According to RCMP, recent incidents across the city prompting first responders to aid and investigate, including two more shootings, plus a house fire early this morning (Sept. 22), are linked together in a series of targeted attacks.
In all cases, Mounties say those that were being targeted are not co-operating with the investigations.
Family’s home targeted
A family of two adults and three kids were uninjured after shots were fired at a home on McIntyre Crescent around 3 a.m. on Sept. 15.
Investigators believe a vehicle was involved but drove away before police were called to the scene.
Quinn Street shooting
Mounties first responded to shots fired at a home on 400-block Quinn Street around 9 p.m. on Sept. 17, believed to be a drive-by shooting as numerous bullet holes were found.
All three people inside were not injured.
Downtown shots
Around 2 a.m. last Friday (Sept. 18), RCMP got a call of gunshots downtown at a home on 1100-block Vancouver Street.
An investigative team found that one shot was fired at the residence and no one was injured from this incident as well.
Woman shot in VLA
On Monday (Sept. 21) before 2 a.m., RCMP were called after reports of a 23-year-old woman shot in the driveway at a home on 2600-block Norwood Street.
She was found with non-life-threatening injuries, but police also believe she was shot on 2800-block Oak Street, roughly three blocks from where she was found.
The investigation is ongoing.
Heritage home damaged
RCMP discovered firearm-related damage to a Bellos Street residents after responding to reports of shots fired in the area around 11 p.m. last night.
No injuries were reported, police explain.
Pets escape deliberate Heritage house fire
Two residents and their pets are all safe after a house fire was doused around 1:30 a.m. this morning (Sept. 22).
This included a dog, cat, kittens and a bunny after crews quickly extinguished a blaze at a Heritage home, causing an estimated damage of $25,000.
Police believe the home was deliberately set ablaze.
However, RCMP say the Upland Street shooting involving verbal altercation between a group of three people and two men on bikes is not linked to the recent violence.
Police add resources are being allocated in hopes of stopping the ongoing dispute in order to ensure the community’s safety.
“The people using these firearms to commit these violent acts do so without a firearms licence or the ability to legally purchase firearms,” says RCMP Cpl. Craig Douglass in a news release explaining the incidents.
“The firearms used in these disputes are usually acquired through the theft of guns from legal gun owners. Police would like to remind all gun owners that it is their responsibility to secure their firearms when not in use. We also request that gun owners take extra steps to conceal the location of their gun safes to decrease the chances of the guns being stolen.”
Anyone with more information is asked to call Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300, anonymously contact 1-800-222-8477 or go online to www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.
