Charges have been laid against a man allegedly involved in the shots-fired incident that resulted in five local schools being locked down last Thursday.
Narinder Singh Gill, 19, has been charged with assault with a weapon, using an imitation firearm, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and breach of recognizance. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear tomorrow (Tuesday) in Abbotsford provincial court.
Abbotsford Police tracked down a suspect after high school students reported hearing shots being fired from a grey Honda Accord that fled the area of Blueridge Drive and Townline Road at 11:20 a.m.
The students, who were on their lunch break, reported the incident to school staff, and police were notified. Five neighbouring schools – Rick Hansen Secondary, Eugene Reimer Middle, and Blue Jay, Dave Kandal and Harry Sayers elementaries – were locked down for about an hour.
The students had recorded the licence plate of the suspect vehicle, and this led police to a home on Homestead Crescent, said Const. Ian MacDonald.
Family members reported that the registered owner of the vehicle no longer lived there, and further checks led investigators to a home on Siskin Drive.
MacDonald said the suspect was found outside talking on his cellphone. His vehicle was seized and is being searched and undergoing a forensic examination.
MacDonald said a weapon was found, but it's not clear where it was located or whether it was a real gun or a replica. Crown counsel has proceeded with imitation-firearm charges for now.
"Should a genuine firearm, or evidence of one, be recovered, the Abbotsford Police will be recommending additional charges," MacDonald said.
He said initial reports indicate that the shots were allegedly fired after the suspect became involved in an altercation along Townline Road with some teens. He did not know whether these were the same youths who reported the incident.
The provincial court database shows that Gill was previously charged with two counts of aggravated assault, one count of uttering threats, and breach of recognizance in an incident from Oct. 21, 2010.
Co-accused Kuldeep Singh Gill, 21, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault. The two were released on bail.
They are next slated to appear in court on those charges on June 22, and their trial is scheduled to begin July 26.