Volunteers at a Heart and Stroke Foundation event experienced their own heart-stopping event Friday afternoon when a drive-by shooting took place just metres from where they were hosting their Big Bike fundraiser at Coquitlam Centre.
And Coquitlam RCMP are continuing to investigate the incident that resulted in non-life threatening injuries to a man driving a black Chevy Suburban with the shooter escaping in another vehicle.
Police confirmed the call came in around 2:45 p.m. with officers attending the scene and blocking off an area of the parking lot outside The Bay. No one else was injured in the incident, although it occurred during the fundraiser when the Big Bike was on the road carrying representatives from various organizations, including local seniors' residences.
One volunteer who was on the scene told The News she heard as many as six shots before a vehicle drove toward the Heart and Stroke tents and stopped. "I heard the first pop and I said 'I think someone has been shot,'" said Shelley Lycan.
She said she looked toward the parking lot at the west of the mall where the sound came from and noticed the black vehicle, which approached the tents, and stopped. A woman then got out and asked Lycan if she had a bandaid.
Lycan also spoke to the male victim who said he had been shot in the arm. "Obviously he was in a lot of pain," Lycan said.
The victim left the scene with his vehicle still in the parking lot, bearing the marks of the shooting, including a blown out tire.
Police were still on the scene after 4 p.m. Friday. and told The News a statement may be issued later that day.
