Fort St. John Mayor Calls for Gang Task Force Support After Three Targeted Shootings

Sarah Desjardins

8/17/20262 min read

The mayor of Fort St. John is calling for stronger provincial police support after a series of suspected targeted shootings raised concerns about gun violence near schools in the northeastern B.C. community.

RCMP are investigating a shooting Friday night at a home in the city, which police believe was the third targeted shooting in Fort St. John in less than a month.

Few details about the latest incident have been released, and police say no suspects have yet been identified.

Mayor Lilia Hansen is calling for B.C.’s gang task force to become involved in an effort to bring the violence under control.

“One shooting, you're like, oh, that's awful. Two, it's like, no, this is getting very serious. And three, this has to be stopped,” Hansen said.

“We need a stronger presence.”

RCMP Prioritizing Shooting Investigations

Police say the series began July 22, when at least one man was injured in a shooting and was later charged.

RCMP and B.C. Emergency Health Services have not confirmed whether anyone was injured in Friday night’s shooting.

However, residents living nearby told Peazzi they saw at least one person transported from the area by ambulance and believe others may also have been injured.

Sgt. Jaime Moffat said Fort St. John RCMP’s serious crime and street enforcement units are working alongside frontline officers to identify and arrest those responsible.

“We recognize the concern these incidents cause,” Moffat said in a statement.

“Significant resources are being dedicated to identifying those responsible and preventing further violence.”

Shootings Occurred Near Local Schools

Residents say the location of the shootings is adding to concerns, particularly with the start of the school year approaching.

Each of the three shootings has occurred within a block of local elementary or middle schools.

Thomas Whitton, a father of four who lives near the scene of Friday’s shooting, said the sudden rise in violence has been unsettling.

“For a small town like Fort St. John, you don't expect this kind of violence so close to your house, so close to where your kids are sleeping,” Whitton said.

Three of his children had walked past the home targeted in the latest shooting approximately an hour before gunfire erupted around 10 p.m., he said.

Bullet holes could still be seen in the home’s front door Saturday afternoon as police dogs and search-and-rescue volunteers searched a nearby park for evidence.

“It could have been tragic, and that scares me,” Whitton said.

Concerns Grow Ahead of School Year

Whitton said governments need to provide police and the justice system with sufficient resources to identify those responsible and prevent further violence.

“None of us want to see it here,” he said. “Especially as kids head back to school in less than a month now.”

Helen Gilbert, chair of the local board of education for School District 60, said the possibility of an innocent person being caught in the violence is a major concern.

“The level of violence in the city, and the concept that somebody who's totally innocent could be injured with these drive-by shootings,” Gilbert said.

She said the school district’s safety team plans to discuss the situation as preparations continue for students to return to class.

“As we head into the school year, it will be something that our district safety team will follow up on and talk about,” she said.

RCMP say the investigation remains a priority as officers work to identify suspects and prevent additional shootings.

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