Charges have been laid against two of the men believed to be involved in a shooting incident in Mission.
RCMP say 33-year-old Joseph Ross Raso and co-accused, 37-year-old Thomas Zdravko Strenja have been charged with attempted murder and forcible confinement. Both men remain in police custody and are to appear in court on Jan. 12.
A third man that was arrested has been released from custody with no charges.
The incident began in Mission on Tuesday. At about 1 p.m., Mission RCMP were called to the Stave Falls area in the 30,000-block of Dewdney Trunk Road after receiving reports of a shooting.
Mission RCMP spokesperson Const. James Mason confirmed that a woman was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after being shot.
As police began their investigation, it was soon discovered that another woman was being held against their will by the suspects.
“We immediately engaged multiple resources in order to locate an associated suspect vehicle, and the person being held against their will, including Air 1, the Real Time Intelligence Centre, Police Dog Services, as well as Mission RCMP’s detachment investigators and Serious Crime Unit,” explained Mason.
Mason went on to say with the assistance of the Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team and Coquitlam investigators, police located and stopped the suspect vehicle in Coquitlam.
“Our ERT team safely conducted a high risk takedown of the vehicle,” said Mason.
Police then arrested two suspects in the vehicle. A number of firearms have also been seized.
The female was also located safely in the suspect vehicle and was rescued.
“I am pleased to say she has no reported physical injuries.”
Police were led to a Coquitlam address where a third male was arrested and taken into custody. The residence of the third male was believed to have been the location where the women had been held against her will.
Mason said because the investigation is ongoing, no further details will be provided at this time.
