2 arrested in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside shooting on Monday

VANCOUVER Police announced on Tuesday that they had made two arrests in relation to Monday morning’s targeted shooting near East Hastings and Abbott streets.

Just before 6:30 a.m. on September 23, the VPD received 9-1-1 calls reporting shots being fired at the Grand Union Hotel at 74 West Hastings Street. A 50-year-old Vancouver man was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

Detectives have since arrested Thomas Joseph Brown, 26, of Vancouver, who has been charged with one count of unlawfully discharging a firearm and possessing a firearm contrary to an order, and Desirae Lorell Cardinal, 31, of Vancouver, who has been charged with unlawfully discharging a firearm.

There were three shootings in the Downtown Eastside over a 15-hour period on Sunday and Monday that sent four people to hospital with injuries.

Two shootings occurred on Sunday, September 22: one just before 4 p.m., near East Hastings Street and Dunlevy Avenue , and the second around 6 p.m. in the area of East Pender and Abbott streets.  Around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, there was a third shooting near East Hastings and Abbott streets.

VPD Major Crime detectives are investigating all three incidents and believe that the three shootings are targeted and may be linked to gang activity. 

The victim in the first shooting is a 50-year-old Surrey man who is in hospital with serious injuries.  A 28-year-old Langley man and 25-year-old Surrey man were injured in the second shooting and were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Monday morning’s incident sent a 50-year-old Vancouver man to hospital with serious injuries.

“The investigations into the three shootings this past weekend remain very active and identifying those involved has been a departmental priority,” said Sgt. Aaron Roed. “Although Crown Counsel has approved charges in Monday’s shooting, we believe there were others involved in these three incidents. It’s very important we hear from anyone with information about these shootings.”

Police are again appealing for dashcam or cell phone video from anyone who may have been in the area of Hastings to Keefer just before 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 22, and later that day around 6 p.m. along Dunlevy to Heatley. Anyone with video or additional information is asked to call the VPD Major Crime Section at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.