CHARGES have been laid against a 32-year-old man following a Vancouver Police Department (VPD) investigation into a shooting that left a man injured in Mount Pleasant last week.
On September 6, shortly after 7 a.m., VPD officers responded to a convenience store near Main Street and 16 Avenue after a man reported being shot in the leg. Officers attended and paramedics treated the victim at the scene before he was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Following an investigation, including a review of CCTV footage, VPD Major Crime detectives identified a suspect.
Later that same day, Kamloops RCMP notified VPD investigators that the same man had been taken into custody in Kamloops on an unrelated matter.
The BC Prosecution Service has approved charges of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon against Victor Sorensen-Avila. He remains in custody in Kamloops awaiting a bail hearing.
“Any act of gun violence in a busy neighbourhood like Mount Pleasant is deeply concerning,” says Constable Darren Wong. “While this incident was disturbing for local residents and business owners, we want to reassure our community that a suspect was quickly identified and remains in custody. We do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the community.”
MEANWHILE, a GoFundMe identified the victim as Mohammad Ali.
The GoFundMe said: “Our beloved employee and friend, Mohammad Ali, was recently shot while working at our convenience store on Main Street in Vancouver.
“For more than 20 years, Ali has been a familiar and loved face in the Main Street community. To so many customers, he isn’t just the person behind the counter he is a friend, someone who remembers people, welcomes them with a smile, and has always treated the community with kindness and respect.
“Ali is also a husband and a father of three children. Right now, he and his family are facing an incredibly difficult time as Ali focuses on recovering from this traumatic experience.
“A proper recovery takes time, patience, and support. Being away from work can also bring financial stress at a time when Ali should be focused on healing. That’s why we are raising $15,000 to help support Ali and his family during his recovery and give them some financial peace of mind while he takes the time he needs to get better.”
Well, by Tuesday night, the GoFundMe had raised more than $53,000 – and more donations were coming in.
