A female victim of a targeting shooting in the east end of downtown Prince George early Friday morning was taken to hospital suffering from a gunshot wound.
Prince George RCMP was called to the scene at Fifth Avenue and Ottawa Street at about 3 a.m. Friday after a receiving a report of shots fired.
When frontline officers arrived at the tent encampment on city land between Fifth Avenue and Patricia Boulevard they located the victim of the shooting. She was rushed to hospital and the seriousness of her injuries are unknown.
"We do believe that this was a targeted attack and are looking into that as our investigation unfolds," said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP. “We do know there is a lot of criminal activity that has increased in that area and around the downtown area (since the tent city was established in June).
"What we have seen is an increase in break-and-enters and stolen property in te area, as well as calls for what we call mischief, so loud noises, suspicious activity and suspicious people in neighbourhoods where people in that neighbourhood haven't seen them before. We've noticed an increase in activity in the commercial areas in downtown Prince George as well as the residential areas on upper Patricia have increased the number of calls we have received. We do have metrics to say in the downtown area crime reports have increased and that's why we're focusing our efforts on the downtown area."
Cooper said partner agencies estimate that 35-50 people are living in the encampment on any given day. In response to the crime wave, RCMP have stepped up their patrols in the area and regularly visit the tent city.
"We have extended our downtown safety unit program to incorporate more officers and have increased the overtime for members we have patrolling the downtown area as well," said Cooper. "We've just increased our shift rotations so we have members covering a larger portion of the day and into the evening as well in the downtown area.”
The city has applied through the courts to gain the authority to evict the residents and have their temporary shelters dismantled by mid-September.
Police continue to investigate the shooting and are seeking input from any witnesses.
If you have any information about this or any other criminal offence, contact Prince George RCMP at (250) 561-3300 or anonymously phone Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477 or online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca. You do not have to reveal your identity. If you provide information that leads to an arrest or recovery of stolen property, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
"We hear that citizens are concerned, we get these complaints to our office on a daily basis," said Cooper. "We encourage people to continue calling RCMP if they witness unusual activity, people in their neighbourhood that they are not familiar with. You know your neighbourhood best and who is supposed to be there."
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