Two men were arrested and charged after an alleged shooting in Surrey on Monday morning.
The Surrey Police Service (SPS) says officers were in the area of 129 Street and 84 Avenue just before 4 a.m., when they “heard what they believed was a gunshot.”
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The officers found and stopped a suspect vehicle, and arrested the driver and a passenger.
“During the arrests, a loaded handgun was discovered and seized,” the SPS reported Tuesday.
Since the arrest, a 20-year-old man has been charged with one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle. Both he and a 21-year-old man have been charged with occupying a vehicle knowing a firearm was present.
Police say more charges may be added as the investigation continues.
Sgt. Lindsey Houghton says that it is not clear whether the incident is linked to extortion.
“We have yet to have a victim business come forward. We have officers looking for any damage, and we have yet to find that,” Houghton added.
The suspects will reportedly remain in custody. Court records show both men are expected in court on Friday.
“They are both foreign nationals, and SPS has engaged the Canada Border Services Agency.”
Witnesses or anyone with CCTV or dashcam video of the shooting is asked to contact the SPS’s non-emergency number at 604-599-0502 and quote file 26-8529 (SP).
SPS says the arresting officers were in the area as part of a project to proactively patrol areas with homes and businesses that could be targeted by extortionists.
The incident occurred just a day after the City of Surrey unanimously passed a motion in council aiming to compel Ottawa to address the rising extortion threats.
Additionally, Surrey’s police chief requested more support from the province a few days ago.
“They advise me that it’s more directed towards federal resources and has a much less of an impact on municipal resources,” Houghton explained how the request may change things.
He adds that there have been 36 reported extortions this year alone, with eight shots fired.
