A brazen daytime shooting at a shopping centre parking lot in Nanaimo on Thursday is likely linked to the escalating Lower Mainland gang conflict, RCMP said Saturday.
In a media release, RCMP said investigators are launching what they call a “massive video surveillance canvass” in hopes of furthering their investigation.
“We believe this event has a nexus to the ongoing gang conflict and violence currently plaguing a number of Lower Mainland communities,” said Acting Inspector Donovan Tait of the Nanaimo RCMP.
The killing happened around 3:30 p.m. on May 20th, near a Wendy’s restaurant at the Rock City Plaza.
Three suspects were arrested shortly after at a Best Western hotel and seized a vehicle.
“We would like to express our sincere thanks to those alert citizens who contacted the police in a timely fashion providing valuable information to our investigators as this event unfolded, resulting in the arrests that were made.”
RCMP are looking to speak with anyone who saw a pearl-white 2003 Cadillac Escalade full-size SUV, as well as its occupants, that was believed to be in the Nanaimo area a few days prior to the shooting.
In addition to seeking video evidence, investigators are looking to speak with anyone who was in the area of the Rock City Plaza at the time of the shooting, in particular a Caucasian woman who was seen walking towards the Jumping Jiminy’s Playground & Café.
Investigators also want to speak with anyone who saw the vehicle they seized, a pearl white 2003 Cadillac Escalade SUV, as well as its occupants, in the days leading up to the killing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
