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UPDATE: Surrey elementary school closed as police investigate two shootings

School spokesman said elementary school not involved. Police were investigating two shootings elsewhere that led them to that neighbourhood
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Police were on the scene early Tuesday morning at J.T. Brown Elementary school in Newton. (Photo: Beau Simpson/Now-Leader)

SURREY — Heavily armed police and the RCMP’s armored personnel carrier descended on a Newton neighbourhood early Tuesday morning, near J.T. Brown Elementary school, during an investigation into two shootings that led them to a house nearby.

Surrey RCMP Corporal Scotty Schumann said police received a report of shots fired that involved two vehicles near 125th Street and 80th Avenue, at about 12:15 a.m.

“When police arrived on scene the two vehicles were gone, however bullet casings were found,” he said. “No injuries have been reported.”

Three minutes later, Mounties were called to a drive-by shooting in the 13200-block of 67B Avenue.

“It appears a parked vehicle was the target. No injuries were reported at this scene either.”

Schumann said police “believe the two shootings are linked and the parties involved are known to each other.” The investigation, led by the Surrey RCMP Serious Crimes section, led police to a residence in the 12500-block of 58B Avenue. The Surrey RCMP was called to the scene at about 6:15 a.m. and flooded the area with police cars.

People at the scene indicated a few people were taken away in handcuffs and a Honda Pilot SUV was towed away from a house near the school.

Schumann said the vehicle was seized as evidence.

“I can’t say if it’s one of the suspect vehicles,” he said. Schumann added that people were “detained” at the scene but “nobody was actually arrested.

“At this point, no persons remain in custody and no charges have been laid.”

So far this year there have been 17 shots-fired incidents in Surrey.

Doug Strachan, spokesman for the Surrey School District, said J.T. Brown was closed Tuesday morning before any of the school’s 270 pupils arrived for their classes.

“It’s unrelated to the school,” he said of the investigation. “We’re inviting students back for 12:25 p.m.”

Schumann said police cordoned off the area as a precaution, concerned there was a possibility of firearms being at the scene.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com

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A Silver Honda Pilot SUV is towed away Tuesday morning near J.T. Brown Elementary school in Newton. (Photo: Beau Simpson/Now-Leader)


About the Author: Tom Zytaruk

I write unvarnished opinion columns and unbiased news reports for the Surrey Now-Leader.
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