Fort St. John’s mayor is urging for increased provincial police support to address a recent rise in gun-related incidents near schools in northeastern British Columbia. The mayor’s plea follows what authorities believe to be the third deliberate shooting at a residence in the city, with limited information disclosed and suspects still unidentified.
Mayor Lilia Hansen is advocating for the deployment of B.C.’s gang task force to quell the violence in the area. Expressing grave concern, Hansen emphasized the urgency of halting the escalating situation, stating, “One shooting is tragic, but three indicate a serious issue that must be halted. We require a more robust presence.”
Law enforcement officials are actively investigating the string of shootings, which commenced on July 22 with an incident that resulted in at least one individual being harmed and subsequently charged. While details about injuries from the most recent shooting are unconfirmed by the police and emergency services, eyewitnesses in the vicinity reported observing at least one person being transported to the hospital by ambulance, suspecting additional casualties.
Sgt. Jaime Moffat affirmed that the detachment’s specialized crime units are collaborating with frontline officers to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. In a statement, Moffat acknowledged the community’s apprehension caused by these events and assured that significant resources are being allocated to track down the responsible parties and prevent further violence.
Concerns are mounting among local residents as the new school year approaches, particularly given that each shooting incident occurred in close proximity to elementary and middle schools. Thomas Whitton, a father residing nearby, expressed shock and anxiety over the sudden surge in violence near his home, where three of his children had passed by the targeted property shortly before the gunfire erupted.
Visible signs of the attack, such as bullet holes in the front door, were evident at the residence, as law enforcement teams and search-and-rescue volunteers scoured a nearby park for evidence. Whitton emphasized the necessity for authorities to be equipped with adequate resources to apprehend and detain the offenders, stressing the community’s collective aversion to witnessing such events, especially with students preparing to return to school imminently.
Helen Gilbert, chair of the local board of education for School District 60, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing concerns about the escalating violence and the potential harm to innocent bystanders in the city. As the school year approaches, she highlighted that the district’s safety team will closely monitor and address these pressing issues.
The community remains on edge as efforts intensify to address the root causes of the violence and ensure the safety of residents, particularly children heading back to school in the near future.