The shooting victim has been identified as Corey William Thomas, 33. He was shot at a residence in the 11900-block of 216th Street around 11:40 a.m. Police suspect the shooting was targeted and related to the local drug trade. Police are investigating the shooting death of a 33-year-old man after a shooting in the 11900 block of 216th Street in Maple Ridge, BC on Friday. (Shane McKitchan) However, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said it did not believe the killing was linked to the ongoing and increasingly deadly gang conflict in the Lower Mainland. IHIT has released Thomas’ identity in the hope that members of the public will come forward to help “further identify witnesses and associates” of him or his activities prior to the incident. “Homicide investigators continue to seek witnesses and video” from the area at the time, IHIT said in a statement. The team said officers completed their examination of the crime scene along with members of the BC Coroner’s Service, Ridge Meadows RCMP and the RCMP’s Integrated Forensic Identification Section. “We are able to confirm that this is an isolated incident,” said IHIT Sgt. David Lee in a statement. Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at [email protected]
