Police on the hunt for the killer of a 15-year-old boy from Coquitlam are looking for any cellphone or dash camera footage that may have captured the brazen shooting.
Vancouver Police Department Const. Jason Doucette told The Tri-City News that even vehicles passing through different parts of the neighbourhood — near East Broadway and Ontario Street — 30 minutes before or after the incident could have caught suspects coming and going from the scene.
"You never know what you have," he said. "You could be sitting on something and not know it… Let us determine whether it is important to the investigation."
He added that any witnesses who were in the area at the time of the shooting who have not yet spoken with investigators need to phone police immediately.
Shots rang out near East Broadway and Ontario shortly after 9 p.m. Jan. 13. According to the VPD, 23-year-old Kevin Whiteside, who is known to police, and at least one other person exchanged gunfire. Whiteside was hit and later died in hospital.
Alfred Wong, a 15-year-old Pinetree secondary student who was in a car with his family driving through the area, died Monday after being on life support.
"This is our main priority," Doucette said on Thursday. "We have officers working around the clock to solve this."
VPD Chief Adam Palmer told reporters Monday that 50 officers have been assigned to the investigation, which was already making "significant progress."
According to court records, Whiteside had several criminal convictions, including ones for possession for the purpose of trafficking, assault with a weapon, breaking and entering and possessing a firearm while prohibited. He was subject to a lifetime firearms ban. In a statement to the CBC, Whiteside's family said they were grieving for their loss and felt sorrow for Wong's family.
"We are a good family who also can not comprehend this type of activity," said Kyra Clark, Whiteside's mother.
• Anyone with any information who has not spoken with police or anyone with dash camera or cellphone video of the events leading up to and after Saturday's shooting are asked to call VPD investigators at 604-717-2500.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
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The principal of Pinetree secondary said he’s waiting for the parents of murdered student Alfred Wong before the Coquitlam school releases any information about him.
Principal Jeremy Clarke declined to provide any details about Wong until school staff have heard back from Wong’s parents, who are now making funeral plans for their 15-year-old son.
“Once they have finalized those arrangements, they will communicate with the school and we will be able to share with our community and the public,” Clarke wrote in an email to The Tri-City News today (Thursday).
The pastor for Wong’s church, Caleb Choi, of the Coquitlam Christ Church of China on Como Lake Avenue, released a statement on the church website to confirm the fatal shooting of their young parishioner.
It said, in part: “We are devastated and saddened over his loss, and our hearts ache with his family… Thank you to those of you that have reached out to us offering your prayers and condolences.”
On social media, Swimming Canada also reached out to expressed its condolences to the friends, family and teammates of Wong, who used to swim with the Hyacks club at City Centre Aquatic Complex.
“This senseless violence has caused a tragic loss for the nationwide swimming family and we grieve with you,” the tweet read.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
