Nanaimo RCMP blocked a portion of Northfield Rd. early Sunday afternoon following a shooting. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

shooting

UPDATE: Attempted murder charge laid after road-rage fueled shooting in Nanaimo

Feb 6, 2023 | 12:22 PM

NANAIMO — A Ladysmith man is formally facing an attempted murder charge after a weekend, road rage-fueled shooting.

Local Mounties were called to Northfield Rd., near Boxwood Rd. around 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5 after reports of a shooting involving two vehicles. Onlookers said one person kicked the side of a vehicle before firing into it.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW both vehicles left the scene immediately after the incident, however, the suspect and victim, a 17-year-old, were quickly found.

“The victim was located uninjured at their residence in the Departure Bay area. Information obtained led to the location of the other individual who was taken into custody, and identified as the possible suspect.”

Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from road rage as the vehicles travelled along the Nanaimo Parkway.

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Ladysmith RCMP officers then completed the arrest of 43-year-old Reza Rahiman along the south end of Cedar Rd., near Code Rd. around 30 minutes after the incident.

The vehicle, an older model Jeep Wrangler, was searched with several firearms confiscated.

Rahiman faces charges of attempted murder and discharging a firearm with intent to injure or wound.

He has a criminal history dating back to 2001 across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and Interior.

Previous charges include assault of a peace officer, mischief under $5,000 and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. He also has several breaches of court orders and other ticketed driving offences.

Rahiman remains in custody.

Officers remained on scene at Northfield Rd. for roughly an hour Sunday afternoon with eastbound traffic exiting the Parkway detoured through the Co-Op Cardlock gas station and back onto Northfield Rd.

Westbound traffic was largely unaffected.

The incident comes shortly after an axe attack Saturday night. O’Brien said this incident carries a large concern for public safety.

“We know the people of Nanaimo are on edge right now because there’s been several significant violent incidences…this is not what we needed.”

Anyone with dash cam footage or any other information related to Sunday’s shooting is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP.

Officers walked the scene of a shooting along Northfield Rd. early Sunday, Feb. 5. Police say two vehicles were involved, with both fleeing the scene immediately after. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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