Suspect ‘ hot- tempered,’ brother says
Victim was former landlord and employer of alleged shooter
The brother of the man facing six attempted murder charges related to shootings in Yaletown and at Science World said he was “disgusted and ashamed” when he found out what his brother is alleged to have done.
Carl Battersby, 52, said he was surprised when he saw the coverage of the incident on the noon news on TV Tuesday.
His brother Gerald Battersby, 61, faces five charges for allegedly trying to shoot five police officers. The sixth is for allegedly shooting Paul Dragan, the 52- year- old owner of Reckless Bikes.
“I didn’t want it to be my brother but it turned out to be my brother,” Carl Battersby said Thursday. “What could I do besides be disgusted and ashamed? Wish it hadn’t happened.”
Battersby said he was particularly upset that it was Dragan who was shot. Dragan owns the west side house where Carl now lives and his brother used to until recently.
“He’s our landlord,” Battersby said “He’s a nice guy.”
Battersby was interviewed on the front porch of the home where he lives in the 1500- block of West 57th on the corner at Granville. Across the street, construction is underway on condominiums for Shannon Wall Centre Kerrisdale. He said he didn’t want to be filmed inside because it was a mess.
Carl said his brother was hottempered. “He said he hated cops and Chinese people,” Carl said. “Anybody that got in his way he hates, that’s what he told me. He would get mad at God most of the time.”
Carl said he had no idea how his brother got a gun.
“Everyone is asking that question,” he said. “I have no idea. I don’t even know how about getting one myself.”
Carl said his brother Gerald was “mechanically inclined” and worked part time as a mechanic for Dragan at Reckless.
Carl said he pays $ 500 to live in the basement.
His said he moved into the house in September or October of last year; his brother Gerald was there with him until April. He said he had no idea where he went after he moved out.
“There is not much I can say besides the fact what’s happened happened, right?” Carl said.
Carl said he and his brother were originally from England. Carl said he was born in Southampton but he wasn’t sure what city his older brother was born in.
“My father heard ‘ Go west young man’ and he did,” Carl said.
After arriving in B. C., Carl and his brother spent six years as youths in Harrison Hot Springs.
He said neither of them finished high school: he said Gerald dropped out in Grade 10; he never made it through Grade 11.
Carl said his brother had a creative side. He pulled out a well- worn business card showing fireworks going off over the sails at Canada Place.
Carl said his brother used the name Gerry Generic when he wanted to work as a drummer, singer or photographer.
Dragan was across the street from his business outside Starbucks at the foot of Davie on Tuesday morning when he was shot.
Police exchanged gunfire with the shooter, who took off on his bike and rode along the seawall.
Police were waiting for him at Science World where a second shootout took place. A female officer received minor injuries when she was hit by flying glass from the shattered rear window of a police car.
Battersby was shot several times in the second exchange. He’s in hospital under guard recovering from injuries to his arm, leg and knee.
Dragan is in critical but stable condition.
Anyone with information is asked to call the VPD’s major crime section at 604- 717- 2541.