An Abbotsford man arrested earlier this summer has now been charged with 14 offences in relation to a series of pellet gun attacks in the community.
The charges were sworn Monday in Abbotsford provincial court against Harpreet Vaid, 21.
He has been charged with seven counts of assault with a weapon and seven counts of discharging a firearm with intent to wound in relation to incidents on July 26 and 27.
Vaid was arrested in early August but couldn’t be named until charges were formally laid.
At the time, Const. Ian MacDonald said the arrest was the result of “extensive media and social media coverage” and witness reports, including video footage that was taken during one of the incidents.
A still photo obtained from the video was released by police at the time of Vaid’s arrest. It showed a suspect in the back seat of a Chrysler Sebring aiming a pellet gun out an open window.
MacDonald said police are still investigating to determine who else was involved and whether further charges will be laid.
Police reported in late July that they were investigating a total of 23 drive-by pellet gun attacks that injured nine pedestrians. Vehicles and homes were also struck.
Most of the assaults took place in the Clearbrook area, but some were reported as far east as Sumas Mountain and as far west as Mt. Lehman Road.
Vaid is next slated to appear in Abbotsford provincial court on Oct. 1.
According to the provincial court database, he has prior convictions for assault, possession of a controlled substance, assault causing bodily harm, and breaching his probation.
MacDonald said Vaid is not connected to the Townline Hill conflict that has involved everything from incidents of mischief to fatal shootings.