Surrey's top cop concerned by ages of suspected shooters

The officer in charge of the Surrey RCMP says he's troubled that nine young people have been arrested in connection with a shootout in south Surrey.

"To say anything other than the fact that they are youths would probably be saying too much," said Chief Supt. Dwayne McDonald.

"I don't want to risk identifying them but youths involved in crimes such as that is definitely a concern for me and for the Surrey RCMP and for the city of Surrey."

Several shots were fired in a hotel parking lot early Monday morning near King George Boulevard and 11th Avenue.

One person was cut by broken glass but no one was seriously hurt.

McDonald says he's heard false reports about the accused.

"It was reported that some of the youths or many of the youths involved in yesterday's incident were part of our Wrap Program and that is not the case," he said.

"I say it's disappointing, only in the sense that Wrap has done a very good job of engaging. We currently have about 94 individuals involved in the Wrap Program. It does have a very valuable return."

Powerful story

McDonald, who was speaking at a Surrey Board of Trade event Tuesday afternoon, shared a personal story to illustrate how crucial it is to reach at-risk teens before they join gangs.

He spent two years trying to convince a gang member who was involved in a murder case to become an informant.

"Unfortunately, before our relationship came to a positive fruition in court, he was killed," McDonald said.

"I had to go and identify his body in the middle of the night, stand over him and think about all of the work we had tried to do to get him out of that lifestyle. I felt that even though I gave my all, I failed. That resonates with me."