Shooting death gang-linked, RCMP say
A man killed in what Williams Lake police believe was a targeted gang shooting Wednesday night has been identified as Indi Johnny.
Williams Lake RCMP officers were called to the 1100-block 2nd Avenue at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday in response to reports of shots fired inside a house.
At about the same time, a 20-yearold man showed up at hospital with a gunshot wound. The man died in hospital.
Several people identified him on social media as “Indy” or “DopeBoy” Johnny before the Williams Lake Tribune confirmed him to be Indi Johnny.
Anaham Reserve Chief Joe Alphonse, who was unreachable by phone Thursday, earlier told the Tribune that the victim was a resident of Anaham and Williams Lake. He’d recently come under attention for criminal activity, but was also a young man with potential, Alphonse said.
“There are good people in his family and they are heartbroken by the loss,” he told the Tribune.
Court records show an Indi Ron Johnny was found guilty March 23 of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. Past convictions include possession for the purpose of trafficking, breach of undertaking or recognizance and failing to appear.
In a statement released Thursday, police said the incident is believed to have been “targeted” and “gang related.”
No additional information was released. RCMP said they couldn’t provide further details in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.
But two gangs have been blamed for escalating street violence in the Williams Lake area dozens of times in recent years.
On Jan. 19, police were called to a home in the Wildwood Subdivision after reports of shots fired. RCMP Staff Sgt. Del Byron said the shooting was targeted and related to ongoing gang conflict in the area, particularly between the Indian Outlaws and the 712s.
Police investigated an apparent targeted shooting Jan. 2 that left two men injured. Williams Lake Mayor Walter Cobb said that shooting appeared to be in retaliation for the slaying one year earlier of 22-year-old Jesse (Delmer) Frank, who grew up on the Anaham Reserve.
Six years ago, Postmedia reported on a 2009 incident involving masked members of the 712s attacking a member of the Chilcotin Rebel Warriors with a machete. At the time, Alphonse said the assault sparked retaliation. The Indian Outlaws were also participating in ongoing violence involving baseball bats and machetes, he said.
Police wouldn’t confirm when asked if the 712s or Indian Outlaws were involved in Johnny’s death.