Powell River woman accidentally shot by son at Oppenheimer Park: Vancouver police

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      After an investigation into a shooting at a Downtown Eastside homeless camp last month, Vancouver investigators believe that it was a result of a son shooting his own mother by accident.

      The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) stated in a news release that detectives completed their investigation into a shooting that took place around 3:30 p.m. on October 26 on Dunlevy Avenue at Oppenheimer Park.

      The investigation was launched after the 53-year-old shooting victim showed up a hospital and alleged that she had been shot in the arm while she was in a vehicle at Oppenheimer Park.

      Due to a gunshot wound, the victim, who is from Powell River, B.C., underwent surgery. She had been visiting an associate living in a tent at the Oppenheimer Park homeless camp.

      Investigators identified the woman’s son as the suspected shooter. Police believe the son, who is in his 30s, inadvertently discharged the weapon as he was talking with his mother.

      The son was arrested later that week for a separate violent offence. At the time of that arrest, officers seized a gun suspected of being used during the Oppenheimer shooting.

      The VPD stated that they won’t be recommending charges as the involved individuals have been uncooperative with the investigation.

      VPD spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison acknowledged in a news release that the incident “caused significant concern in the community and drew more negative attention to the park”.

      The VPD had previously expressed concerns about the "significant increase" of violence and weapons in the park area.

      However, the Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) has argued that safety issues can be used as an excuse to remove vulnerable populations, who experience aggression from city workers and police. The CCAP also argue that the problem isn’t the homeless campers but societal issues that led to the formation of the camp.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook

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