Surrey, B.C., shooting victim not co-operating

RCMP in Surrey, B.C.,say a 32-year-old man who was shot inthe citylate Monday night has gang connections and is refusing to co-operate with police.

Just after 10:30 p.m. PT, neighbours reported gunshots in the 10100 block of 153rd Street, outside a nightclub near Surrey's Guildford neighbourhood.

Police said a man ran up to an SUV and fired six to eight shots atone man inside, leavinghim with a minor injury from flying glass.

The suspect then fled on foot.

No arrests have been made.

Police said the target was with three other men, including his 28-year-old younger brother.

"Through the investigation we've learned that all the males have gang connections or some association at a yet-to-be-determined level with gangs in the Lower Mainland," said RCMP Sgt. Peter Thiessen.

"And all four of the males including our victim, the intended target are completely unco-operative with regards to this investigation.

Thiessen said investigators do not have a description of the shooter or thevehicle he used to flee scene.

The officer said there is no evidence to link the shooting with the slaying of Red Scorpions leader Jonathan Baconand the injuring of at least four others, including two gang members, in a daylight shooting in Kelowna, B.C.,on Sunday.

Police had warned the shooting could spur more violence in the form of retaliation and Thiessen echoed that warning, saying this could be the beginning of a cycle of increased violence.

"Gangs and their associates clearly have a callous disregard for the safety of others when these disputes erupt," he said.

Thiessen urged young people not to associate with anyone with gang ties, and warned the public to stay away from establishments frequented by gang members.

"You need to know where you're frequenting what types of establishments are you going [to], are they frequented by known criminal element of any type?" he said.

"Don't frequent those types of places, even if you're a law-abiding person ... if it's clear that these establishments, anywhere in this province, are being frequented by known gang associates and gang members, simply stay away from those places."