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LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS.
HOW ONE BURNABY NEIGHBOURHOOD FOUND NEW LIFE SEE PAGE 13
Police investigate fatal shooting Cayley Dobie
cdobie@burnabynow.com
A longtime City of Vancouver employee has died after he was shot outside his home in Burnaby Wednesday afternoon. Around noon on July 15, local RCMP were called to the 7900 block of Wickham Place, a cul-de-sac near Canada Way off Berkley Street, following reports of shots fired in the area.When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim, a City of Vancouver employee, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries a short while later, according to a media release from Burnaby RCMP. At press time, police had yet to identi-
fy the victim, but other media outlets were reporting the victim was the City of Vancouver’s superintendent of street cleaning – nights, Burnaby resident Hanif Jessa. His death sparked a heavy response by the City of Vancouver and its police department. In a statement, the police department said that “due to a threat against a City of Vancouver employee, the city and the police have taken the unusual steps of securing a number of works yards and job sites.” One of Vancouver’s works yards was closed and the police department sent officers to other city buildings, including city hall, to provide extra security. At no time did the police believe there was a risk to the general public, the statement added.
Thursday morning,Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson released a statement expressing his sadness following the city employee’s death. “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden and tragic murder yesterday of a longtime city employee at his home in Burnaby.We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends,” read the statement. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, meanwhile, took over the investigation into Jessa’s death. Burnaby RCMP reported that the shooting was not believed to be random, but no details have been released about motive or any suspects. On Thursday, there were some rumours
floating around social media that a suspect had been arrested in Port Moody, but Port Moody police confirmed this was not true. “During the initial stages of yesterday’s tragic shooting in Burnaby, the city (of Port Moody) was made aware that there was a possible safety issue for two of its employees. As such, steps were taken to safeguard their well-being. As the evening progressed, we were made aware that the threat had subsided and the employees were no longer in danger,” read a statement by Port Moody police. According to the homicide investigation team, a press conference was planned for Thursday afternoon, after press deadlines. See www.burnabynow.com for the latest on this story.
Vexed by vermin Local man warns about rats in the city Jennifer Moreau
jmoreau@burnabynow.com
They live beneath the hoods of vehicles, surviving on dried figs.The rats of Brentwood have been troubling local resident Darcy Olson, and he wants his neighbours to help stop the vermin from spreading. “We’re not alone; everyone’s had an experience,” Olson said. The rats have an apparent fondness for vehicle engines. Olson caught one scurrying from his jeep, and he found droppings and dried figs under the hood of his Volkswagen. Olson said his neighbour had a windshield “washer fluid incident,” where something had been chewing beneath the hood of yet another vehicle. “There’s always been rats. My cats have always been bringing them home, but it’s been more prolific in the last year and a bit,” Olson said. “This summer, it’s usually pretty hot and heavy because of all the fruit and things, and when the Continued on page 8
RODENT ALERT Burnaby resident Darcy Olson found evidence of rats inside one of his vehicles. He wants his neighbours to be more aware of the vermin and to take more steps to prevent them from spreading. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER
REALTOR® BJELICA
Making Transitions Smooth 604-619-6263 Cell 604-435-9477 Office vidabjelica@hotmail.com
Order Take-Out. Call 310-SPOT (7768) or order online at www.whitespot.ca
COFFEE WITH RICHARD! Saturday, July 25 9:00 - 10:30 am Caffe Artigiano 4359 Hastings, Burnaby
I hope to see you there!
Richard T. Lee MLA Burnaby North
604.775.0778
Richard.Lee.MLA@leg.bc.ca www.richardleemla.bc.ca