Gang war in Prince George

There is a gang war going on in Prince George between the Independent Soldiers and a splinter group from the gang, according to Prince George RCMP.

Wednesday afternoon's drive-by shooting which put a 19-year-old man in serious condition in hospital was part of a series of violent incidents between the two factions, Sgt. Raj Sidhu said. Sidhu leads the gang task force in the city.

"The majority of these (incidents) have been linked to us involving the Independent Soldiers and the splinter group," Sidhu said. "These gangs are associated with gangs in the Lower Mainland. (And) this is a trend that is happening in the Lower Mainland."

Since October Prince George RCMP have arrested 23 people on 145 charges related to gang violence. Charges include forceable confinement, kidnapping, possession for the purpose of trafficking, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and firearms charges.

A Vancouver-based special prosecution unit which specializes in gang-related cases will be handling some of the files, Sidhu said.

Sidhu said semi-automatic handguns are the weapon of choice for the gangs, but they've had incidents involving shotguns and rifles.

The escalation in violence appears to have started six months ago in December, when several gang members were arrested after a brawl in Pine Centre Mall's parking lot which sent one person to hospital and cash flying everywhere.

One of the biggest challenges for police is trying to track who is involved with the gangs at any given time.

"The structure of organized crime groups has changed quite a bit. Now the membership is quite fluid," Sidhu said. "All we can do is try and do our best. I'm hoping we're making a dent."

RCMP spokesperson Const. Leslie Dix said on July 30, police received a complaint about a home in the 2200 block of Norwood Street.

"Upon attending the residence, they were invited in... and located a male in the basement shackled and tortured," Dix said. Police believe the crack shack where they found the victim was linked to the Independent Soldiers. Three adults and a youth offender were arrested in connection with the torture case.

"This isn't he first time we've encountered this, although it's the first time we've saved the victim."

Dix said it isn't uncommon for a violent attack like the one on Wednesday to touch off a series of reprisal attacks.

The attacks are usually targeted at individuals involved with the gangs, but residents should always be alert to what is happening around them, Dix said.

Mayor Colin Kinsley said the city is doing what it can to provide the police with the resources they need and assisting to crack down on, "unscrupulous landlords," who allow crack shacks to exist on their property.

"We've implemented a plan where those homes don't comply with plumbing regulation or electrical we can shut them down," Kinsley said. "We're been able to close a few of them."

Kinsley said as the city grows as a service hub for the region, it will also is attracting big city criminal elements.

"It's a great concern. (But) I don't think there is a reason to fear," he said. "Hopefully through arrests and convictions we can quell that."