Despite Abbotsford Police Chief’s Warning Letters In Punjabi And English, Targeted Shooting Sends Two To Hospital

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Police say 2 shooting victims who turned up at an Abbotsford, B.C., hospital Friday night are connected to an earlier shooting investigation

ABBOTSFORD – Despite Abbotsford police chief’s warning letters in Punjabi and English, targeted shooting last Friday sent two people to hospital in a long ongoing dispute between two gangs fighting for control of drug turf.

Police are searching for a gunman after two men were shot near a busy restaurant in downtown Abbotsford.

Gunfire erupted just before 8 p.m. on Friday near the Bavaria Restaurant, located in the 33200-block of Walsh Avenue. The restaurant was filled with customers at the time.

“It was just scary for everyone,” said Brittany Fladager, who works as a hostess at the Bavaria.

“I heard two gunshots, and everyone was like, ‘What was that?’”

Next door, hair stylist Kierra Newman heard more than a dozen shots go off, but at first wasn’t sure what the sound was.

“We locked the door just to be safe and eventually the police came in and told us it was not a firecracker,” she told CTV News.

As investigators converged on the scene, two men with gunshot wounds showed up at a nearby hospital.

Police say one man was released Friday night and the other remains in hospital in serious but stable condition.

The incident was targeted, and officers say the victims are linked to a gang drug war that police have dubbed the “Townline Hill Conflict.”

Just this week, Abbotsford’s police chief sent a letter asking for help from the parents of young men who officers believe are involved in this turf war.

“We have a huge concern for the safety of our community,” said Sgt. Judy Bird.

Police worry an innocent person could have been caught in the crossfire. People who work in the area also fear the same thing.

“It’s so weird – it was so close to work and it actually happened,” said Newman. “I still can’t believe it happened.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225.