B.C. anti-gang squad report shows rise in gang shootings

After several years of declining activity, gang shootings are on the rise again this year, according to British Columbia's anti-gang squad.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit has released its annual report aimed at discouraging involvement in gangs, especially for young women who get drawn in by luxury gifts and the illusion they're immune to violence.

According to the report, in the first half of 2015, there were 30 gang-related homicides and attempted homicides in B.C. — more than the total amount for the whole year in 2013 or 2014.

Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton says the increase this year is mostly due to the gang conflict this spring in Surrey and Delta.

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He says most of the perpetrators are low-level "dial-a-dope" drug dealers, at the front lines of drug networks and organized crime.

"These people are out on the street, sometimes 24/7, and they're the ones who are in conflict with each other for this turf and for these customers," he told The Early Edition's Stephen Quinn.

"So they're the ones who are often fighting it out, and they're more than often the victims of this violence."

'Dead-end lifestyle'

Houghton says the shootings appear to have ended, mostly because some of the suspects have fled to India, while others have decided the police and media spotlight was too bright to remain involved.

He says there are days when it feels like fighting the gangs and trying to stop people from joining is like swimming up a waterfall, but there are also rewards when their message gets through.

"We need to get out and talk to our young people and talk to communities and engage them to make sure that the message is getting through: that this lifestyle is a dead-end lifestyle if you go down it."

'The code changed'

The CFSEU report also delves into the problem of women getting wrapped up in the gang lifestyle.

It highlights the story of an anonymous woman in her 20s who was caught up in a gang, became addicted to drugs and was forced to ferry drugs and money across the country before she escaped.

Carol Kinnear is also profiled in the report, whose daughter, Brianna, was shot and killed at age 22 while driving a friend's vehicle in Coquitlam six years ago.

"Every day, I thought, is this going to be the day I lose my daughter? And we talked about this a lot," Kinnear told On The Coast's Gloria Macarenko. "She said, 'Don't worry Mom, they don't shoot girls.' … It was almost like a code that they didn't go after them. And then it changed. The code changed."

"I want these people who are involved in gangs and drugs to know that the effects of this are very devastating. Brianna never would have wanted this for us. And I'm sure most of these people don't want this for their families either."

Gang-related homicides and attempted homicides in B.C.

YTD = Year to Date, ending June 30, 2015

Source: Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C.

To hear the interview with CFSEU's Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton, click the audio labelled: B.C. gang shootings up so far in 2015

To hear the interview with Carol Kinnear, click the audio labelled: Mom of girl killed in gang violence speaks out