Police resources 'pushing capacity' after 3 major gun crimes in 4 days

Waterloo regional police say their resources are "pushing capacity" after a series of gun crimes in Cambridge and Waterloo — one of which killed a 58-year-old woman.

And, while Chief Bryan Larkin said he wants to reassure the community after the spate of gun violence, he acknowledged there was a risk to public safety following the shooting death of Helen Schaller in Preston.

Larkin called the woman's death "outraging."

On Friday, Larkin highlighted a number of local cases under investigation, including:

• The April 17 killing of Schaller in a parking lot in the Preston area of Cambridge. It happened at about 5:30 p.m. At this point in their investigation, police do not believe the shooting was targeted.
• The April 19 shooting in Waterloo, in which 30 shots were fired into a shopping plaza, mainly into a Subway restaurant. About 12 people were inside. One man was shot and two women were injured in the ensuing melee.
• The April 20 crash that seriously injured two people. Police responded to gunfire at King Street N. and Hickory Street in Waterloo around 3 a.m. After that, an officer was involved in a crash with two people, who were hurt. One of those people remained in intensive care on Friday. The Ontario Special Investigations Unit is involved with the investigation.

He also acknowledged the death of Leanne Holland Brown, who was walking near MacGregor school on Wednesday when she was hit and killed by a vehicle.

Larkin got emotional when he discussed Brown's death, saying he knew Holland Brown well and the crash is now a "significant criminal investigation."

Police are still looking for tips in all of the above cases and are urging the public to come forward with information.

Larkin said he knows there are people who have information but haven't come forward, but said officers have "active investigation leads," and in the case of Schaller's killing, a significant amount of video footage.

"I want to reemphasize to the community, I understand. And I can appreciate the fear, the trepidation, the outrage," he said. "Continue living your lives. We cannot let people inhibit us from going out, from enjoying downtowns, uptowns, night life, restaurants. Ultimately, those that prey and those that commit these crimes, that's part of their mantra. They want to intimidate fear."

He also urged those responsible to come forward.

"We will find those responsible for those crimes, and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the criminal code of Canada," Larkin said.

Larkin reminded the public they can call in anonymously with information to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.