Man dead, suspect at large after shooting in Abbotsford, B.C.

A man is dead and a suspect is at large after a shooting at an Abbotsford encampment—prompting questions about safety issues at the site.

One man is dead and a suspect remains at large after a shooting at a homeless encampment in Abbotsford, B.C.

Police were called to reports of gunfire at the encampment near the Whatcom Road Park and Ride, next to the Trans-Canada Highway, at 11:11 p.m. Monday.

Sgt. Paul Walker of the Abbotsford Police Department says one man was transported from the scene with a life-threatening gunshot injury and later died.

“The investigation remains in its early stages, and additional resources have been deployed to determine the full circumstances of what is believed to be a targeted incident,” Walker said Tuesday, describing the shooting as a homicide.

Investigators have since identified the victim as a 69-year-old resident of the homeless encampment.

“This area has been a large encampment for quite a few years,” Walker said. “Abbotsford police routinely arrive at this location for calls for service, such as weapons-related calls, assaults, disturbances.”

Brian Twaites, a paramedic spokesperson for B.C. Emergency Health Services, confirmed two ambulances were dispatched to scene and transported one victim to the hospital in critical condition.

A witness at the scene reported hearing a single gunshot and thinking it was a firecracker before police arrived and pulled a man from a nearby trailer.

“I didn’t feel safe to begin with when I first came here,” encampment resident Bryan Moen said. “And certainly now, it’s way different.”

No arrests have been made following the shooting and no suspects have been publicly identified.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken conduct of the investigation. The agency said Tuesday it was not releasing the victim’s name as investigators were still working to contact his family.

“The incident is not believed to be related to gang activity or extortion,” IHIT said in a statement.

Sgt. Freda Fong, a spokesperson for the homicide team, said the crime scene will be difficult for investigators to process due to its exposure to the elements.

“You can expect investigators in the area for some time speaking with witnesses and searching the area,” Fong said.

Ongoing safety concerns

Encampments like the one at Whatcom have long been a concern in the community.

“What we continue to routinely hear from the community is: ‘Why isn’t this area being cleaned up? Why are we still seeing what we are seeing behind me?’” said Walker, explaining that Abbotsford police work with their partners to proactively address the needs of people in the encampment.

“We need these areas to be focused, clean, safe and managed for the people that live here and call these areas home until the levels of government from the provincial side and beyond are able to get additional housing for the people that live here,” Walker said.

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the homicide. He also noted the encampment is on provincially owned land, and outside of the city’s jurisdiction.

“The city does not have authority to direct actions on that property, including the actioning the management of encampment,” he wrote, in a statement, adding that the municipal government has “repeatedly raised concerns with (the Ministry of Transportation and Transit) about conditions at Whatcom and the need for timely, sustained action on provincially managed lands.”

A spokesperson with the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs said the priority is to ensure those living in camps have access to support and “pathways into stable, long-term housing to get out of encampments.”

The spokesperson also said that a City of Abbotsford supported clean-up effort at the camp this week removed about 15,000 pounds of debris.

The ministry statement also said that the encampment location will continued to be assessed alongside the needs of contractors and public safety as improvements to Highway 1 through the region continue.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email [e-mail].