By Canadian Press

Suspect in custody, several people shot in Metro Vancouver city of Langley, B.C.

Jul 25, 2022 | 9:48 AM

LANGLEY, B.C. — RCMP say “several people” have been shot and a suspect is in custody, after an early morning incident in the Metro Vancouver city of Langley that left a vehicle riddled with bullets.

Police issued a blaring cellphone alert at about 6:20 Monday morning, saying they were at the scenes of several shootings “involving transient victims.”

At that time, RCMP said they were unsure if the shooter was alone and warned people to stay out of the downtown core of the city.

However, police say the man they arrested is thought to be responsible for the shootings. 

“Investigators do believe the lone suspect to be in custody but more information will be released to the public in an expedited manner as soon as it is received and confirmed by investigators on scene,” said Sgt. Rebecca Parslow.

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She said she had no updates on the victims involved.

Yellow police tape surrounded a sandwich shop and a parking lot in Langley at the scene of one of the shootings. A black tent with LMD Forensics on the side had been set up over one of the crime scenes. 

At a nearby scene the windshield and driver’s window of an unmarked black police SUV was riddled with bullet holes near the Spence Diamonds store at the Langley Centre. 

A white four-door sedan was parked next to the forensic tent a short distance from the black SUV.

Not far from that site, orange cones surrounded a blue sleeping bag and a bicycle, while a pair of shoes and a piece of clothing were taped off in the middle of the street.

“We have Lower Mainland emergency response teams as well as major crime teams from E-Division headquarters attending to Langley RCMP, and we will be moving forward with a co-ordinated response into what occurred in the early morning hours, today,” said Parslow.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has confirmed on social media that its investigators have been deployed to Langley to help RCMP with the investigation. 

A statement issued by police said the investigation was active and involved multiple areas of Langley City and Langley Township.

Several areas of Langley are closed off and police have asked people to stay away from those locations, including the Cascades Casino and the Langley bus loop. 

A worker at a nearby coffee shop said most of the stores might open by noon or after.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2022. 

Hina Alam, The Canadian Press