NANAIMO — The owner of a local mechanic shop remains in hospital after being shot near a makeshift downtown encampment.
Shots were reported coming from near the 100 block of Terminal Ave., near the former downtown Nanaimo White Spot location, around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 12.
The victim, a 49-year-old man, was part of a group of individuals entering the camp to retrieve tools stolen from his shop on the evening of Friday, March 10 and spotted by friends at the encampment earlier in the day.
Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said investigators were initially called to Barsby Park, at the corner of Mill St. and Barsby Ave. on the west side of the river, however the situation then moved over to Terminal Ave.
“The area was secured, our forensic specialists and Police Dog Services responded and the area was shut down for several hours. At this point, we have not made any arrests in connection to the shooting.”
O’Brien noted a firearm was seized at the camp and several people were taken into custody on outstanding warrants unrelated to the shooting.
He called the investigation “very fluid, very dynamic” involving a wide area with lots of people.
Friends of the victim went into an encampment along the Millstone River Sunday afternoon after spotting tools stolen from his business Friday evening. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)Those involved in the search reported a chaotic scene, with a fight breaking out before the owner and others left with the tools.
They were reportedly shot at multiple times fleeing the area, crossing Terminal Ave. towards the parking lot.
First responders rushed to the scene and transported the man to hospital with multiple injuries. Those involved in the search later said he underwent surgery on Sunday and is slated for further treatment in the days ahead.
O’Brien said approximately six people were with the victim when they entered the camp, but said police can’t condone the actions of the group.
“We don’t support this activity at all. This situation could have been prevented if these individuals had simply contacted police and allowed us to safely deal with the situation.”
A media briefing is being planned by the Nanaimo Area Public Safety Association (NAPSA) on Monday, March 13 and will feature speakers who were directly involved in the altercation, as well as others affected by continuing challenges in Nanaimo.
“The unhoused individuals who did this to him must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Collen Middleton, interim chair of NAPSA said. “They need to be off the streets and in a secure facility where they are not a threat to the public, and to stay there until they are rehabilitated.”
They are again calling on the City, provincial and federal governments to take whatever action is required to improve conditions in the area.
“The ‘unhousable’ members of the street community are constantly stealing from the public, and from each other,” Middleton added. “They are a clear and present danger to themselves, other members of the unhoused population, and the public at large.”
Public safety was the theme of a rally held near Country Club Centre in January where multiple stories were shared of often violent altercations between business owners and those gripped by the mental health and addictions crisis.
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