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Tuesday, December 18, 2018 | Your community newspaper since 1916

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE

Christmas hampers Volunteer Jasmyn Lai places in a turkey in one of the many bags that will be delivered as part of the Prince George Council of Seniors annual Christmas Hamper event. Nearly 200 hampers will be delivered to seniors in need.

Operation Red Nose provides 244 rides Citizen staff

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Police are investigating a fatal shooting which took place outside a home in the 700 block of Johnson Street on Friday. A 30-year-old man was killed in what RCMP say was a targeted attack.

Shooting death first homicide of the year Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca A home in the Central Fort George neighbourhood remained behind police tape and investigators were on the scene Monday searching for clues that could help solve the first homicide of the year in Prince George. In what police described as a targeted attack, a 30-year-old man died in hospital Friday from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. RCMP had been called to the scene in the 700 block of Johnson Street at about 5 p.m. and found the man outside the home. The home had the markings of a drug house, a neighbour said, with some rough characters passing through over the years. However, RCMP said Monday that police cannot yet confirm whether the homicide was related to the drug trade. “Investigators will look at all possible motives,” Prince George RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Craig Douglass said.

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A house for sale with a “sold” sign on top was posted on the front lawn and another neighbour said it appeared the home’s occupants were in the process of moving out. Another neighbour said she did not hear any shots but did see police converge on the scene. “It was kind of scary because they (RCMP) had come out with their guns,” she said. About the only contact she had with those living in the house occurred when an “older gentleman” knocked on the door of her home and asked for a cigarette. “My friend does smoke so he gave him a cigarette and he left,” she said. “And then he came back the next day and wanted another cigarette and we just thought ‘well, this is just getting to be like...’ so we said ‘no, that’s it.’” She never had any trouble with those living in the home but had heard rumblings about “lots of activity going on there.”

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“I know that they’re everywhere, these drug houses or whatever,” she said. “I just didn’t think there was any in our neighbourhood to tell you the truth because you don’t really watch for that, or at least I don’t.” It was the first homicide of the year, RCMP confirmed. Police have not provided the victim’s name. In contrast, four investigations into homicides were opened in 2017 beginning in late January with a double murder after two men were found shot dead in a vehicle on the side of Foothills Boulevard near North Nechako Road. A third person found in the vehicle survived and four men – Seaver Tye Miller, Aaron Ryan Moore, Joshua Steven West and Perry Andrew Charlie – are to go to trial on counts of first-degree murder in 2019. And Christopher Clarke Prince remains in custody on a count of seconddegree murder of Shane Whitford in May. Police are also treating as homicides the disappearances of Roberta Marie Sims in May and Lloyd Sword in August.

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Making ERs safer for seniors SENIORS 22

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Operation Red Nose delivered 244 safe rides home, covering 5,847 kilometres on its third weekend of service in Prince George. On Friday, 80 volunteers making up 19 road teams delivered 119 rides, travelling 2,898 kilometres. It was the second-busiest fifth night in the effort’s 21-year history. In 2012, 124 rides were provided on the same night. “The phones started ringing shortly after 9 p.m. and didn’t really slow down until after 2 a.m.,” said Andrea Johnson, Operation Red Nose spokesperson. “All 19 teams were on the road by 9:45 p.m.” On Saturday, 67 volunteers fielded 16 road teams and delivered 125 rides, travelling 2,949 km. So far, after six nights, volunteers have provided 586 rides and travelled 15,048 km. As for volunteers, only 16 teams are signed up for New Year’s Eve. “That number needs to be at least doubled to meet the demand for rides we expect,” said Johnson. “It means at least another 48 volunteers are needed, whether they’ve only volunteered with us one night or are former clients.” The deadline to drop off applications to the Prince George RCMP is Wednesday. The application, which includes a criminal record check, is available online at www.ornpg.ca Red Nose volunteers are back in service on Friday and Saturday. Those who require a ride home can call 250-962-7433 between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. Operation Red Nose is organized by the Rotary Club of Prince George-Nechako in partnership with ICBC and the Prince George RCMP.

Police nab impaired drivers Citizen staff Prince George RCMP’s municipal traffic services section took 11 drivers off the road on Friday and Saturday for allegedly getting behind the wheel while impaired. Nine were issued 90-day immediate roadside prohibitions with a 30-day vehicle impoundment, issued for driving with a blood-alcohol level over 0.1 and three were issued a seven-day impoundment for a blood-alcohol level between 0.06 and .099. They were a result of a series of static check stops and roving patrols around the city. As well, seven tickets for speeding were issued, as were eight for intersection related violations, two for distracted driving (cellphones) and four for driving while prohibited. Three vehicles were sent for inspection due to improper or inadequate equipment.

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