Police confirmed that three people were killed by gunfire in the Canadian city of Langley, in British Columbia, in the early hours of Monday morning – one of them the shooter himself. Other people were injured.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the attack took place in different parts of the city and in the Langley area, 40km from Vancouver. Authorities said the names of the victims would be released only after families were notified.
It’s unclear what led to the crime, according to police.
The alert, which was triggered during the attack, stated that the suspect was white, wearing a hat and a camouflage shirt. He was killed by agents reacting to the attack.
Police claim the victims were homeless and were special targets of the attack.
Reuters news agency said two SUVs were seen with gunshots near the scene of the crime.
It was reported that the attacker also opened fire on buildings that were closed and empty at the time.
“Our hearts go out to the families and friends of all those involved in this tragic event,” Langley Mayor Val van den Broke said, according to the local Langley Advance Times website. He also noted that the number of homeless people in British Columbia is higher than in other Canadian provinces and that authorities should do more to minimize this problem.
Lawyer Kim Snow, who defends the homeless, said the victims were people who “just needed a place to live”. “They need opportunities, they’re not on the street,” Snow said.
In 2017, a list based on several Canadian crime rates found Langley to be the sixth most dangerous city in the country.
– This text was published at https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-62298571.
source: Noticias
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