Police are investigating North Vancouver’s first homicide of the year Saturday, after shutting down North Shore bridges in a bid to trap their suspect.
They are hunting a suspect who reportedly shot a 60-year-old man and sped away in a vehicle.
According to reports, the victim was shot in the chest shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday in the 4000-Block St. Georges Avenue, with the suspect then speeding away.
Police responded and found the victim. Efforts were made to save him, but he died of his injuries.
Police installed road blocks on both the Lions Gate Bridge and Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, searching southbound vehicles as they left the North Shore. Just before 3 p.m. North Vancouver RCMP announced they had reopened both bridges to normal traffic.
Shortly after 5 p.m., police announced the incident had been turned over to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Members of the North Vancouver RCMP, West Vancouver Police Department, Forensic Identification Section and the Integrated First Nations Policing are also involved in the investigation.
“I can confirm that IHIT has taken conduct of this case. The victim is a man in his 60’s. We are in the process of completing the notification of next of kin,” said Sgt. Bari Emam of IHIT in a statement. “We are in the early hours of this investigation and are hoping to learn more about the motive and circumstances surrounding this homicide.”
Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to contact the IHIT Tipline at 778-290-5290 or [email protected]. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a tip at Solvecrime.ca.
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