One man is dead after a targeted shooting in a normally quiet residential neighbourhood in east Maple Ridge early Saturday, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
Just after 2 a.m., Ridge Meadows RCMP responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 243 Street and 102 Avenue.
Upon arriving, police found a 32-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital, but died as a result of his injuries.
Neighbours spoke to media, but did not want to leave their names. One was up at the time, and said she heard three or four shots.
“It was really loud, it sounded like bear bangers at first,” she said.
Watching out the window, she saw three vehicles drive away from the scene of the shooting – a truck and two SUVs.
She said police arrived on the scene within five minutes, and she immediately heard and officer say “Man down.” The victim was laying on the sidewalk outside his home on a residential street.
Another woman who lives across the street said she was in a deep sleep when she heard two shots. She looked out her window and could not see, but she did hear a woman screaming.
A large section of 102 Avenue was closed off with police tape Saturday morning as investigators went door to door speaking with neighbours, and a forensics team worked at the residence and on the sidewalk in front of it.
IHIT is now working with Ridge Meadows RCMP to determine what events led up to the shooting, and the 24300-block of 102 Avenue will be shut down for an undetermined amount of time.
The investigation is in its early stages, but from the evidence gathered so far, the shooting appears to have been targeted, IHIT said.
Currently, the victim cannot be identified as next of kin has yet to be notified.
“We are looking to speak with more witnesses who were in the area at the time of this incident and may be able to provide valuable information to assist our investigation,” said IHIT Cpl. Meghan Foster.
• IHIT is asking that anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-4448 (IHIT).
#MapleRidge #RCMP are on scene with a male shot in the head during a driveby shooting at 24300 Blk of 102 Ave
