Abbotsford police are holding steadfast in their approach to mitigating gang-related violence after targeted shootings in the Lower Mainland this month and in 2023.
On Jan. 20, the Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) responded to a shooting at the Sevenoaks Shopping Centre, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old man. The Abbotsford News later confirmed that the man killed was Amritpal Saran, who was reported as “entrenched in a gangs-and-guns lifestyle,” by a judge in late 2020.
Constable Art Stele expressed shock and deemed the incident “unacceptable,” given that it took place in the afternoon in a public area.
“There is a heightened level of violence, specifically shootings, that are occuring in these public places,” said the media relations officer.
“And we are using very many methods to put together the tools we need to prevent these things from happening.”
CIVL Radio spoke with Stele about AbbyPD’s unchanged, largely “preventative” measures in the community.
