Victim of suspected road rage identified as 33-year-old man
Police have identified the Vancouver victim of a suspected road rage shooting early Friday as 33-year-old Willis Charles Hunt.
Shortly after 1:30 a.m., the Vancouver Police Department received a call about a man shot near Bridgeway Street, which runs beneath the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge offramp.
A short time later police found Hunt suffering from gunshot wounds. He could not be saved and died.
A 32-year-old woman believed to be in the same vehicle as Hunt suffered minor injuries and was treated at hospital.
“It’s still very early in this investigation and our detectives are working to confirm the circumstances that led to this man’s death,” Const. Jason Doucette said, in a news release.
“We are reminding anyone who may find themselves involved in a road rage incident to remain calm, not to engage the occupants of the other vehicle, and to call 911 if you feel your safety could be at risk.”
Sgt. Jason Robillard said Friday he could not share information about what evidence led police to believe the incident was related to a traffic dispute.
Robillard also declined to say whether the shooting victim or witness were known to police.
He said the victim was in a grey Toyota Matrix, and the suspected shooter was in a white sedan.
In response to an inquiry on Friday about whether such incidents pose any risk to the public, a representative of the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety replied in an email: “As this matter remains under investigation by police, it’s not appropriate to comment at this time.”
No arrests have been made in relation to the Vancouver’s 14th homicide of 2018.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have dash cam or video footage taken near the intersection of McGill Street and Renfrew Street on Friday morning between 1:30-2 a.m. to call homicide detectives at 604717-2500 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.