Terry Farrell
Record staff
One man is in hospital and a suspect is at large after shots were fired at a residence on Piercy Avenue in Courtenay, Friday afternoon.
“What we know right now is that we were dispatched (to) a shooting earlier this afternoon between the 1600 and 1700 block of Piercy Avenue,” said Cst. Rob Gardner of the Comox Valley RCMP, at the scene. “The investigation is very early on in its stages at this time. One male has been taken to the hospital with unknown injuries, and it is believed that the victim and the suspect were known to each other.”
As of late Friday afternoon (5:30 p.m.), the suspect was still outstanding. RCMP could not provide any description.
When asked whether the victim, the suspect, or the residence are known to police, Gardner could not confirm.
"I don't know anything about that, personally,” he said.
Neighbouring homeowners were more forthcoming.
“This house, since we've been here, has been nothing but trouble. It's a constant, but it has gotten worse,” said Heather Bould. “It's been rented several times and we have the same story. We always have trouble, over and over and over, in that house.”
Another neighbour, Fred Muzin, said today's gunfire was not the first such incident recently.
“About two-and-a-half weeks ago on a Sunday night, we heard some noise, like someone banging on a door, just around midnight. We didn't know it was shots at the time, it was just loud bangs.”
“The police knocked on our door and asked if we heard anything,” said Bould.
“So about three weeks ago there were three shots fired, then today they actually hit someone,” added Muzin.
Muzin said residents in the area have asked authorities for a community meeting to address the problem house, located at 1650 Piercy Ave.
“The mayor even sent an email to (Comox Valley RCMP Inspector) Tim Walton. We were contacted by a constable but he wasn't interested in meeting with the community, he just wanted to meet with me, because I complained to the mayor.”
"We're done,” said Ross Stuart, who lives a few houses up the street. "How much did today cost? How much did 2017 cost? (Someone) needs to be held accountable.”
(Video editing by Erin Haluschak)