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Charges laid in 2015 strip mall shooting

It was a brazen daylight shooting at a busy Burnaby mall that shocked onlookers. Now, the two men police believe responsible for the crime have been charged.
charges
Two men from Burnaby and Surrey are facing numerous charges related to a shooting at a local mall in 2015.

It was a brazen daylight shooting at a busy Burnaby mall that shocked onlookers. Now, the two men police believe responsible for the crime have been charged.

On Tuesday, Burnaby RCMP announced charges against Brandon Vuong Nguyen, 21, of Burnaby and Ba Huy Tran, 21, of Surrey.

The two men are facing charges of robbery and multiple weapons offences.

The shooting happened on Sept. 30, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the Old Orchard Shopping Centre at Willingdon Avenue and Kingsway. A 26-year-old Burnaby resident was hit and injured but treated and released from hospital the same day.

One suspect in the shooting was quickly arrested thanks to a group of bystanders who had chased him down and held him until officers arrived.

An investigation followed and the second suspect was arrested on March 2.

A search warrant was executed where two guns were seized including a loaded assault-style rifle and a loaded 9 mm handgun. Police also seized a significant amount of ammunition and drugs, according to RCMP. 

Police did not say where the arrest took place or where the search warrant was executed.

The initial investigation suggested the shooting was sparked by an argument between two groups of people. It was unclear whether the two parties in the shooting knew each other.  

“Our streets are a little safer with this guy in custody,” said Burnaby RCMP Supt. Steph Drolet in a statement. “This was a brazen daytime shooting in a public area. Innocent bystanders could have been hurt and the police would not have solved this investigation without the assistance of the public.”