Surrey Man Charged After Firing Gun Inside His Home While Intoxicated

Charges have been laid against one man after he allegedly discharged a firearm in his residence in late 2017.

 

 

On December 18, 2017 at 4:00AM, Surrey RCMP was called to the 8900 block of 156A Street after a report of a gun shot heard approximately an hour earlier. General Duty officers found two residences with bullet holes in them. 

 

 

In one of the homes John NEWMAN, 56 years old of Surrey, was found intoxicated and in possession of a firearm and he was arrested. This incident is not related to the gang/drug conflicts in the Lower Mainland.

 

 

Surrey RCMP’s General Investigation Unit (GIU) is leading this investigation and obtained a search warrant for the residence where NEWMAN was located. A total of 7 firearms were seized inside the home along with a small quantity of illicit drugs. One of the firearms seized was reported stolen in 2013 after a break and enter in Coquitlam.

 

 

On January 3, 2018, NEWMAN was released on bail after being charged with the following offences:

 

 

3 Counts of Possession of a Prohibited/Restricted firearm with Ammunition

 

2 Counts of Careless Use of a Firearm

 

1 Count of Possession of a Firearm Without Being the Holder of a Licence and/or Registration

 

1 Count of Possession of a Firearm Knowing There is No Licence and/or Registration

 

1 Count of Contravening a Regulation Regarding the storage of Restricted Weapons

 

1 Count of Possession of a Controlled Substance

 

 

Thankfully, no one was injured in this incident, says Corporal Scotty Schumann. In addition, the seizure of seven firearms improves safety in the community. Most firearms used in crime are domestically sourced. When they are not stored properly it makes it easier for them to be stolen for criminal use.

 

 

For information on licensing, registration and general safekeeping of firearms, please visit the RCMP’s Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) website at www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf.

 

 

If you’d like to surrender unwanted firearms, under no circumstances should you bring firearms or ammunition to police detachments or community police offices. Call your local police and officers will come pick them up. 

 

When police attend to retrieve your unwanted firearm, do not bring your firearm to the door. Leave it securely stored so the officer can ensure the firearm is unloaded and safe for transport.