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Man injured in shooting on Sandpiper Drive in Abbotsford

This is the second such incident in less than two weeks on that road
17373abbotsfordSandpipershootingAug17web
Investigators were on the scene Monday night of a drive-by shooting on Sandpiper Drive in Abbotsford.


Police are investigating the second drive-by shooting in less than two weeks on Sandpiper Drive in Abbotsford.

The latest incident occurred Monday night, resulting in a 23-year-old man suffering a gunshot wound to his leg.

Const. Ian MacDonald said police were called out just after 8:30 p.m. when residents reported hearing five or six gunshots in the 30700 block of Sandpiper Drive.

Patrol officers searched the area and found shell casings on the road, but there was no evidence that vehicles or homes had been struck.

Police then called regional hospitals to see if anyone had arrived requiring medical assistance.

One hospital confirmed that a man had just shown up with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his leg.

MacDonald said the victim does not currently reside in the area, but has lived in Abbotsford in the past and has had "negative contact" with police in this community.

He said the victim is not co-operating with police in providing information about the shooting, but the incident is believed to be part of the ongoing "Townline Hill" conflict.

A prior drive-by shooting, also believed to be part of the dispute, took place in the 30500 block of Sandpiper Drive on Aug. 6.

In that incident, a 2013 Volkswagen in the driveway of a residence had been struck with several bullets, but no one was injured.

At the time, police said there are people in the home who are well-known to police, but none of them were co-operating with police.

The Townline Hill conflict – in reference to the general area of west Abbotsford where most of the disputes are taking place – began more than a year ago.

The conflict involves two groups of young South Asian men and has involved incidents of mischief, assault, vandalism and arson.

In recent months, the dispute has escalated to include several shootings.

Last October, 18-year-old Harwin Baringh was fatally shot while in his vehicle on Sparrow Drive – located in the vicinity of the last two shootings – but police have not confirmed whether his murder is related to the conflict.

However, court documents filed in December to seize two vehicles alleged to have ties to Baringh's murder indicated that his death was linked to an ongoing conflict between members of the Chahil and Dhaliwal crime groups.

MacDonald said the Townline Hill conflict initially began between the two groups "over next to nothing,"  but these men became easy targets for gang recruitment.

He said the recent shootings represent a "hodgepodge of different reasons for men to be in conflict with one another, starting with the petty and going up to gangs and drugs."

The conflict was the subject of a crime forum for the South Asian community in April at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium that attracted more than 500 people, with many being turned away at the door.

The Abbotsford Police Department is asking anyone with information about last night's shooting to call them at 604-859-5225, text abbypd (222973) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

OTHER SHOOTINGS:

Feb. 22 : One man is shot and another stabbed during an altercation on Holly Street.

March 2: Shots fired at a home, associated to a known gang member, in the 31400 block of Southern Drive. Nobody injured.

April 16: Shots fired from one car at another in the area of Clearbrook and Downes roads near MEI school. Nobody injured.

July 18: Five shots fired at a home in the 31400 block of Blueridge Drive. Nobody injured.

 

(Photo below by Vikki Hopes: Sandpiper Drive in Abbotsford on Tuesday morning, the day after a shooting injured a 23-year-old man.)



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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