Hollywood style shooting

Photo: Contributed - Google Street View

900 block of Western Avenue in Williams Lake

It was a scene you would expect to see in a Hollywood movie, not the streets of Williams Lake.

One man is in critical condition in hospital with multiple gunshot wounds after the vehicle he was riding in was shot at multiple times during a high speed chase through a residential neighbourhood in the Cariboo city.

The incident occurred at about 11 p.m. Saturday on Western Avenue. Several residents contacted RCMP reporting multiple gunshots.

Upon arrival, police noticed two vehicles leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

Police were able to stop one of the two vehicles and, inside, found a 28-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds.

"It is believed the vehicle in which the victim was a passenger was being pursued by a second vehicle," said Cpl. Jason Pole.

"As the chase proceeded through the 900 block of Western Avenue toward Highway 97, occupants of the pursuing vehicle fired several shots at the lead vehicle."

Pole said police can't stress enough the seriousness of an incident such as this, which took place in a residential area at a time when most of the occupants were at home.

"Multiple shots being fired from the suspect vehicle that was travelling at a high speed through a highly populated area created an extremely high risk to our community. It is a blessing that no one was hit by a stray bullet."

RCMP are asking anyone with information that may assist police in apprehending those responsible to contact the Williams Lake RCMP detachment at 250-392-6211 or Crime Stoppers.