Cheryl Wierda
Contributor
The man who shot at police and kidnapped a man following a robbery in late 2011 has pleaded guilty to some of the charges against him.
Devan Markcus Wong, now in his early 20s, appeared via video in a Kelowna courtroom on what was to be the first day of his trial on Monday and pleaded guilty to kidnapping with a restricted firearm, using a restricted firearm to commit robbery of two people at Premier Jewelry and Loan, covering his face with the intent to commit a crime, and discharging a firearm at two police officers in an attempt to evade arrest.
The charges date back to Dec. 6, 2011, when an armed man burst into Premier Jewelry and Loan and ordered a female staff member, at gunpoint, to empty the display cases, owner Martin Strasser told the Capital News at the time.
When a customer walked to the front window, the employee ran away and the robber dashed out the door.
Police were already outside, Strasser said, and Wong dropped the jewelry and ran down the alley next to the business.
“That’s where shots were exchanged,” said Strasser.”Police were sprinting after him full out. I heard a crack was and they kept going … they have more courage than I do.”
Police searched for Wong for two hours, but later learned he carjacked a man driving in the area and ordered him to drive to a West Kelowna mobile home park, where Wong was picked up by another individual.
Two months later, Wong, a Surrey resident, turned himself in to police.
A pre sentence report has been ordered for Wong, who returns to court May 13. Three other charges Wong faces in connection to events on Dec. 6, 2011 were not dealt with on Monday. It is likely they will be stayed following sentencing.
-with files from Kathy Michaels
