B.C. residents shaken by public shootings

British Columbia's public safety minister says the latest round of shootings in public spaces has been "unsettling" for residents.

Mike Farnworth called yesterday's shooting deaths of two people in Langley, where two others were wounded, "a senseless act of violence" that is "extremely disturbing."

Police have not established a motive for the violence in Langley but say the gunman, who was shot dead by police, was known to them, and they initially said the attacks involved "transient victims."

The killings south of Vancouver occurred a day after two men known to police were fatally shot in the resort town of Whistler, where a burning vehicle associated with the incident was discovered.

On July 15, a man acquitted in a pair of 1985 bombings targeting Air India planes was shot dead outside his workplace in Surrey.

Farnworth says he understand that British Columbians are worried and fearful when shootings happen in their neighbourhoods.

"We don't yet know the motive behind the shootings. However, with (yesterday's) tragic events, I want British Columbians to feel assured as more info becomes available, we will make that known to the public."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2022.