The mayor of Fort St. John is advocating for increased provincial police support to address a recent uptick in gun violence near local schools in northeastern B.C. This call comes in response to what authorities believe was a third deliberate shooting at a residence in the city on Friday evening. Specific details about the incidents remain limited, and law enforcement has not yet identified any suspects.
Mayor Lilia Hansen is urging the deployment of B.C.’s gang task force to curb the escalating violence within the city. Expressing deep concern, Hansen emphasized the urgency of halting the violence, stating, “One shooting is tragic, two is alarming, and three must be halted. We require a more robust presence.”
The RCMP is actively investigating the string of shootings, which began on July 22, with at least one individual sustaining injuries and subsequently facing charges. While the authorities have not confirmed injuries from the recent Friday shooting, local residents reported witnessing at least one person being transported to the hospital by ambulance, indicating potential additional casualties.
Sgt. Jaime Moffat affirmed that the detachment is prioritizing the identification and apprehension of suspects through collaboration between the serious crime and street enforcement units with frontline officers. Moffat acknowledged the community’s apprehension over these incidents and assured that substantial resources are being allocated to identify the perpetrators and prevent further violence.
Concerns are mounting as the new school year approaches, with neighbors near the shooting sites expressing shock and unease at the sudden surge in violence within the city. Each shooting incident occurred in close proximity to local elementary and middle schools, amplifying anxieties among residents. Thomas Whitton, a father of four residing in the area, emphasized the gravity of the situation, remarking, “For a small town like Fort St. John, experiencing such violence near your home, where your children sleep, is unexpected.”
Whitton recounted how three of his children had passed by the targeted residence merely an hour before the gunfire erupted around 10 p.m. The presence of bullet holes in the front door the following day, alongside the deployment of police dogs and search-and-rescue volunteers scouring a nearby park for evidence, underscored the potential severity of the situation. Whitton emphasized the necessity for authorities to equip law enforcement and the judicial system with adequate resources to identify and detain those responsible for the violence.
Helen Gilbert, chair of the local board of education for School District 60, echoed these concerns over the escalating violence in the city and the risk of harm to innocent individuals due to drive-by shootings. As the new academic year approaches, Gilbert highlighted that the district safety team would address and monitor these safety issues closely.
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