Vancouver police are on high alert for potential retaliatory violence following a brazen gang shooting in the bustling Robson Street shopping district over the Easter weekend. The incident unfolded when two gunmen unleashed a barrage of gunfire on their target, triggering chaos as startled bystanders fled for safety.
Video footage obtained by CTV captured the chilling moment when two masked assailants, traveling in a white vehicle, pulled up behind a black vehicle before rushing towards it and opening fire. The intended target can be seen scrambling away amidst the gunfire, which erupted on Saturday afternoon around 5:40 p.m.
VPD Sgt. Steve Addison, speaking at a briefing on Sunday, described the footage as “chilling,” emphasizing the fortunate absence of casualties. “It’s a miracle that no one was injured; it’s a miracle that nobody was killed,” he remarked, highlighting the pandemonium that ensued with people seeking cover and fleeing for their lives.
Although investigators have identified the target, they are withholding specific details, noting only that he emerged unscathed despite the perilously close proximity to the gunfire. It is believed that he was deliberately singled out by the gunmen and is allegedly tied to gang-related activities. The only reported casualties from the incident were two dogs, presumed to be the sole occupants of the vehicle alongside the target.
The timing of the shooting added to the chaos, with Vancouver’s mayor and thousands of others present in the downtown area, including attendees of a nearby Whitecaps game scheduled for 7 p.m. The heightened police presence, deployed for the game, protests, and the usual Saturday night revelry in the Granville entertainment district, facilitated swift response to the shooting.
“We have a lot to work with here: lots of witnesses, lots of bystander video, lots of information to work with,” stated Addison, underscoring the substantial investigative resources available. He expressed anticipation that the incident aligns with the enduring gang conflict in the Lower Mainland, suggesting the likelihood of retaliatory actions in the near future, whether within Vancouver or elsewhere.