Hunt continues for suspects in Vancouver teen’s death
Struck by bullet while in car with parents
The older brother of an innocent teen struck during a gangland shootout described the anguish of his devastated family Monday as Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer said progress is being made in the hunt for the suspects.
Wilfred Wong said the death of his 15- year- old brother Alfred has left a void in the hearts of his parent and himself.
“Everything is still very raw right now,” Wong told a news conference organized by the Vancouver Police.
“We are also in shock that something like this could happen to us.”
Alfred and his parents had just had dinner with Wilfred on Jan. 13 and were driving home along Broadway when Alfred was struck by a bullet from a gunfight on the busy street.
He died two days later in hospital. One of the shooters, Kevin Whiteside, was also killed.
Wilfred Wong thanked his family’s church, the Vancouver Police Department, hospital staff “and everyone else who has been supportive of us through these difficult times.”
“In particular we would like to thank the officers that were with us for those two nights when doctors and nurses from the emergency and ICU. Everyone gave their best and we are very thankful for that,” he said.
“The 15 years we had with Alfred was far too short. But we know that Alfred is now in heaven with God. My parents and I will always love him dearly.”
Pastor Caleb Choi said “Alfred was a bright young man,” who was an honours student at Pinetree Secondary who was determined to be an electronic engineer.
“Outside of school, he participated in martial arts, basketball and swimming. He was hoping to become a lifeguard and had already completed many of the re- quirements,” he said. “Alfred was preparing to join a leadership camp so that he could gain experience and help the community through volunteering.”
He also l oved playing video games with his friends and travelling the world with his family, he said.
“While he was t aken from us much, much too soon, he lived his 15 years to their fullest extent. You know that he is now with God in a better place,” Choi said.
Palmer praised Wilfred Wong for talking to reporters so soon after losing his brother.
“I admire your courage in standing up here,” Palmer said. “I know Alfred was not only a good student and good athlete, he was a good son and a good brother.”
He said investigators are making progress in the case and heard from more witnesses after setting up a mobile command centre on Saturday night at the spot where the shooting took place a week earlier.
They have also reviewed surveillance video from businesses in the area, as well as dash- cam video provided by members of the public.
“We have a very good idea of what happened that night,” Palmersaid.
“We do not have significant evidence to lay charges.”
He also said investigators now know whether Alfred was struck by a bullet from Whiteside’s gun or from the gun of another suspect. But he said that information would not be released because police wanted it as holdback.
The gang violence raging across the Lower Mainland is the worst that the province has seen in a decade, Palmer said.
He said conflicts between rival groups involved in the drug trade are as bad as they were when the Bacon brothers and their fellow Red Scorpions were battling the United Nations gang in 2008 and 2009.
EVERYTHING IS STILL VERY RAW RIGHT NOW.