One person dead in shooting at Canada’s Vancouver International Airport, police looking for suspects
Canadian police are looking for suspect or suspects after one person was shot dead in broad daylight outside the main terminal of the Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia.
“A man was shot and killed this afternoon near the domestic departure terminal [of the Vancouver International Airport]. Media availability later this evening in Richmond,” the Canadian Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) tweeted on Sunday.
The statement followed reports of police and paramedics responding to a shooting incident at the airport. It was soon announced that the situation has been contained.
IHIT is deploying to YVR. A man was shot and killed this afternoon near the domestic departure terminal. Media availability later this evening in Richmond. Time/location TBA shortly.
— IHIT (@HomicideTeam) May 10, 2021
The airport officials have assured that the airport was “open and safe” and that the flights were operatin.
UPDATE ON EVOLVING POLICE INCIDENT: We can confirm the situation has been contained at YVR. The airport is open and safe. Flights are operating. We will release more info as it becomes available. Check with your airline on the status of your flight before leaving for YVR.
— Vancouver International Airport (YVR) (@yvrairport) May 9, 2021
However, while the scene was pronounced no longer active, the shooting suspect or suspects have apparently managed to escape police, with reports saying they fired shots at officers as their vehicle sped away.
A shooting at Vancouver airport today. It’s becoming the Wild West even in my hometown now. Sickening. https://t.co/PFO0JUv2o4
— Sue Miller Love (@suedoeskelowna) May 10, 2021
Local media has been posting images of a burnt-out vehicle in Surrey, which they said was believed to be the suspects’ getaway car.
Media speculation suggested that the Sunday’s incident was gang crime-related, with reports claiming that the shooting victim was a “gang member.”
Gang violence has been on the rise in the Metro Vancouver area, with another highly-publicized local incident described just a few posts down on the IHIT Twitter page. A 22-year-old woman named Shana Harris was shot and killed in Surrey in February, and police said in April they believed she was “the unintended victim of a targeted shooting” and not involved with a gang herself.
This was 22yo Shana Harris. She was shot and killed at a home in Surrey’s Whalley neighbourhood on Feb 4th at 730am. We believe she was the unintended victim of a targeted shooting. Much has been done on the case with much still left to do. If you have info, please reach out. pic.twitter.com/k1zPNsGVfH
— IHIT (@HomicideTeam) April 13, 2021
Canadian police have previously said there have been 15 gang-related killings across Metro Vancouver since the start of 2021.
“New groups have entered into the gang landscape that has resulted in more conflict,” Assistant Comm. Manny Mann, chief officer of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, told media in late April.
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