A gang shooting that claimed the life of a Coquitlam teen has prompted an extensive investigation, with more than 50 Vancouver Police Department investigators trying to piece together what happened last Saturday night and find who is to blame.
The shooting occurred between 9 and 9:30 p.m. on East Broadway near Ontario Street, and police are looking for dashcam footage or other video that may show what happened.
Monday, Vancouver Police Chief Const. Adam Palmer held a press conference, saying officers had already made “significant progress in the last 40 hours,” but had yet to determine who fired the bullet that seriously injured a 15-year-old, Alfred Wong, who subsequently died of his injuries on Monday.
Wong reportedly went to Pinetree secondary school and was in Grade 10 but School District 43 hasn’t confirmed the information because the family has asked for privacy.
Meanwhile, VPD Department is dealing with the aftermath of the shooting that killed an innocent teen along with a 23-year-old man who was known to police.
“My heart goes out the family of the 15-year-old boy,” Palmer said. “They were having a normal Saturday night evening out with family and now they are grieving for their son.
“My message to the family is this: We will not ever be able to fully comprehend your grief but the Vancouver Police Department will do whatever it takes to seek justice for your son.”
Investigators are still trying to determine how many people were involved in the shooting.
Kevin Whiteside, 23, of Vancouver was one of the two people involved the exchange. He was seriously injured and subsequently died. Media reports suggest Whiteside was a low-level drug dealer who had a lengthy record, including previous firearms offences.
A third victim, a Vancouver man in his 30s, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
“There was at least one other person with a weapon,” Palmer said. “We’re reviewing video and talking to witnesses as I speak, and we’re trying to piece that part together.”
He was not commenting on were the suspect(s) were on foot or in a vehicle.
“Vancouver is a safe city and this is an anomaly. It’s been many many years since we’ve had a shooting like this where a person’s been hit,” he said.
• Investigators with the VPD's Major Crime Section are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this shooting or who may have dashcam footage and driving in the area between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Jan.13, to call 604-717- 2500.
— with files from Jessica Kerr/Vancouver Courier
