Three Prince George men are in custody after a shooting on Bellos Street led to a high-speed police chase on Thursday.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Craig Douglass said at 11:37 a.m. police received multiple reports of a shooting on the Heritage neighbourhood street. Witnesses reported to police that a vehicle pulled up in front of a house, opened fire on the home and then fled the scene.
RCMP officers on route to the scene spotted the suspect vehicle driving away at high speed, which fled from police.
"Given the imminent public safety concerns... there was more of a need to stop the vehicle then in a normal situation," Douglass said.
During the brief chase, the vehicle hit the curb and crashed through the fence of a home on McBride Crescent, near the intersection of 10th Avenue.
"All three (suspects) fled on foot, with two being apprehended quickly," Douglass said.
RCMP police dogs were called in to assist with the search for the third suspect, who was found hiding a short distance away from the scene of the crash, he said.
No injuries were reported in the shooting, but the hiding suspect was taken to hospital for treatment for a minor dog bite, he said.
A 40-year-old, man, 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old man – all well known to local police – are in custody and are expected to face charges.
Police seized two firearms near the crashed car. During the search, students at Duchess Park Secondary School were recalled back into the school under the school's emergency procedures.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, Douglass said.
It was the second shooting of the day at the same home on Bellos Street. The first happened at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Thursday morning.
In that shooting police officers arrived on the scene, and cleared a home on the street. Three adults in the home were found uninjured.
The suspect or suspects fled the area before police were called, but officers found evidence confirming shots had been fired.
There was another shooting on the street on Sept. 21. No injuries were reported in that shooting either, but investigators found "firearm-related damage" to a home on the street.
All three incidents are believed to be targeted attacks associated to an ongoing conflict between two rival gangs in the city, RCMP said.
A long-time resident of Bellos Street who asked to not be identified said up until the last 18 months or so, he almost never saw the police on the street.
"There is an old lady across the way (from the house that was shot at). There is a daycare here, and at the other end of the street. They got the wrong house, the first time – shot holes in the door," he said. "It's not great. At some point, you just want to live in peace."
He said he heard, but didn't see, the early-morning shooting.
"It was two shots fired. I heard them," he said. "I didn't rush out there to see, I'll tell you. There was a lot of police here, and dogs."
The resident said the police "have been wonderful," and told him they're keeping a close eye on the situation.
"They've been there lots of times," he said.
Anyone with information about the ongoing violence linked to the drug trade, or the people involved, is asked to call Prince George RCMP at 250-561-300. Tips can also be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.
