One man is in hospital after shots were fired at a residence on Piercy Avenue in Courtenay, Friday afternoon.
“We were dispatched (to) a shooting ... between the 1600 and 1700 block of Piercy Avenue,” said Const. Rob Gardner of the Comox Valley RCMP. “A 31-year-old male was rushed to a local hospital with injuries sustained after being shot. The male was flown to a larger hospital for treatment. There is no current update on his status.”
According to a Record source, the victim was shot twice - once in the thigh and once in the chest. Police would not confirm the information.
“The investigation continued throughout the weekend and the Comox Valley RCMP have made two arrests in this incident,” said Gardner on Monday. “One arrest was made late this morning. Both males are currently in custody.”
Names of the suspects were not released, as charges had yet to be laid as of Record press time.
When asked whether the Piercy Avenue house where the incident occurred is 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.”