Three people were arrested Monday night (Aug. 16) and remain in custody after a man was shot in the hand in Abbotsford.
Abbotsford Police Sgt. Judy Bird said police were called at about 6:45 p.m. for reports of a break-in underway at a residence in the 33200 block of George Ferguson Way.
When police arrived, the resident told them that he had been home alone when three men with guns forced their way into the residence.
Bird said the victim was robbed and shot in the hand, and the three suspects drove away in a grey Hyundai Elantra. The victim was taken to hospital.
The residence was taped off and roads in the area were blocked off Monday night while police investigated.
RELATED: Police called out after reports of possible home invasion in Abbotsford
Bird said the Elantra was located on Harris Road, and two passengers were arrested. The driver was located a short time later and arrested.
The three men – ages 18, 31 and 34 – are awaiting a court appearance. Charges have not yet been formally laid.
A neighbour, “Pete” (not his real name), told The Abbotsford News that, during the incident, a stray bullet went through the kitchen window of a nearby home – where his son and girlfriend are house-sitting – and through a sliding glass door.
The couple are staying in the basement suite and didn’t hear anything. But they were notified of the bullet by the owner of the home, who lives elsewhere and was alerted to the incident when it was caught on security video. Investigators removed the bullet as evidence, Pete said.
Bird confirmed that a stray bullet ended up in a neighbouring home.
“It doesn’t make us feel too safe in the neighbourhood here,” Pete said.
He said the home where the man was shot in the hand has been an ongoing issue for the last few months, with police being called several times. Pete said it appears to be a “drug house,” with people coming and going at all times of the day.
The home drew a large police presence on June 14 after reports came in about a man yelling for help about a possible home invasion.
Following the incident, police said that all parties on scene were uncooperative and officers were unable to determine exactly what had occurred.
Bird would only say that police “have attended this residence previously.”
Anyone with information or CCTV footage from the area between 6:30 and 7 p.m. on Monday is asked to call the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225.
vhopes@abbynews.com
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