Nine people – five men and four teenage boys – have been arrested in connection with shots fired outside of a South Surrey hotel early Monday morning.
Police responded to reports of gunfire in the parking lot of the Pacific Inn, at 1160 King George Blvd., around 3:10 a.m. Shell casings were located, and one person was treated for injuries suffered as a result of broken glass.
According to Surrey RCMP Sgt. Alanna Dunlop, initial investigation has revealed that the shots were fired between two vehicles as a result of an altercation.
Police believe the incident was targeted and that the individuals involved were known to each other.
However, its occurrence in a public area is “concerning,” Dunlop told Peace Arch News Monday.
One resident of the nearby Crescent Gardens Retirement Community – which shares the parking lot – told CTV News that multiple shots were fired.
“First I was woken up by four or five shots and then another barrage of shots,” the senior said.
Two vehicles were seen fleeing the area. Dunlop said one was located “fairly nearby and shortly thereafter,” and that police believe a second vehicle located in another jurisdiction is also connected.
“I can’t confirm at this point if we’ve arrested everyone involved,” she said, noting more arrests are possible.
“We do believe that we have the two vehicles that were involved.”
Dunlop would not confirm reports that a bullet had struck the Crescent Gardens complex, which is home to about 150 seniors.
“I can’t confirm anything to do with where bullets may have gone,” Dunlop said, as police continued to assess the scene.
Crescent Gardens manager Julia Glover also would not confirm the report.
“All I can say is the residents are all OK, everybody’s fine and the police are investigating,” Glover told PAN Monday morning.
Glover said the incident has “been the talk of the community here… We’re just trying to be a normal day and get on with our business here.”
Dunlop said the person injured by glass fragments is not believed to have been associated with the gunfire. She had “no information” as to why the individuals involved were in the area, or if they were guests of the hotel.
Pacific Inn manager Erik Nielsen told PAN he did not believe they were staying at the hotel. The hotel’s front entrance was cordoned off while police investigated, however, the facility remained open for business.
“There’s nothing (affected) inside the hotel,” Nielsen said.
Police remained on the scene for several hours Monday, determining the movement of the vehicles involved, the trajectories of the bullets fired and speaking to neighbours and witnesses.
No further updates were available prior to PAN’s press deadline Tuesday morning.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca