Vancouver Police are investigating a Saturday afternoon shooting at Oppenheimer Park, which sent a woman to hospital with serious injuries.
VPD received reports of the incident around 3:30 p.m. After the victim showed up at hospital and reported being shot while parked in a vehicle on Dunlevy Avenue, just outside the park. The woman, a 53-year-old from Powell River, was visiting a man who stays at the Oppenheimer encampment.
The victim had surgery at hospital, and her injuries are not life-threatening.
Vancouver Police have repeatedly raised concerns in recent months about deteriorating public safety in Oppenheimer Park and throughout the Downtown Eastside as a result of the large encampment in the park.
VPD is concerned by a significant increase in weapons, violence, and calls for service to Oppenheimer and the surrounding area, as gangs compete for territory around the park.
Earlier this month, VPD thwarted a murder plot by arresting three street gang members who were allegedly planning to kill a rival drug trafficker who operates near Oppenheimer.
Detectives from VPD’s Major Crime Section are in the early stages of the investigation into yesterday’s incident, and want to speak with anyone with information.
Witnesses are asked to call the Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541, or to make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.