Police believe a Saturday morning incident in which shots were fired at a home on Blueridge Drive is connected to an ongoing conflict in west Abbotsford.
Const. Ian MacDonald said the shooting appears to be related to a series of prior incidents that they have dubbed the “Townline Hill conflict.”
Police received reports at 3:15 a.m. Saturday of shots fired in the 31400 block of Blueridge Drive – west of Townline Road.
Patrol officers who arrived on scene found a number of shell casings on the road and discovered that five bullets had hit a home. Nobody was injured.
MacDonald said a family lives in the home and one of the occupants – a young man – has had previous interactions with police.
That person is refusing to co-operate with investigators, MacDonald said.
“We continue to work to identify possible suspects and a motive for the shooting,” he said.
Police first reported a year ago that a series of incidents was occurring in the Townline Hill and Blueridge Drive areas between two groups of young men.
By November, they reported that the incidents ranged from acts of vandalism and mischief – such as keying cars and smashing windows – to arson.
In March, police reported that the tensions had escalated to include gunfire with “threats to public safety.”
Among the shootings was an incident on Feb. 22 in the 2300 block of Holly Street in which two men in their 20s were involved in an altercation resulting in one being shot and the other being stabbed.
Another incident took place less than two weeks later, when shots were fired at a home in the 31400 block of Southern Drive, but nobody was hurt.
Police at the time said the home was associated to a known South Asian gang member.
Later that month, police issued a public notice about three men – Sandeep Sidhu, Jimi Sandhu and Gavin Grewal – they said posed a risk to the community and anyone who associates with them.
Shots rang out again in April, this time at Clearbrook and Downes roads near MEI (Mennonite Educational Institute). Witnesses reported seeing two vehicles stop on the street, and a passenger get out of one of the vehicles and fire several rounds at the other before both cars sped off.
A few days later, police invited the South Asian community to attend a crime forum at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium to address the ongoing conflict. An overflow crowd of 500 turned out, and many people had to be turned away at the door.
Meanwhile, police have spoken to a number of neighbours and other witnesses in relation to the latest shooting, but they are appealing for more information related to the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225, text abbypd (222973) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
