SaltWire E-Edition

St. John’s man arrested in connection with recent rash of shootings in metro area

ATLANTIC BRIEFS DESK sw-briefs@saltwire.com

ST. JOHN’S — A 20-year-old man is facing charges in connection with a recent string of shootings that police believe are related to a criminal network in the metro St. John’s area.

Police said the most recent incident happened Friday, May 27, around 1:35 a.m., when officers responded to a report of a fire on Baker Street in the east end of St. John’s.

The front of the home was damaged from the fire and had also sustained damage consistent with gunshots, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said in a news release.

The initial string of incidents was first reported on Friday, May 13, around 10:45 a.m., when two people wearing masks got out of a gold-coloured Toyota sedan and shot at a parked vehicle in the Galway area. The duo then got back in the car and fled toward the Trans-canada Highway.

In a connected incident on May 21, officers responded to an assault on George Street in St. John’s just before 1:30 a.m. and found a 22-year-old man from Paradise with stab wounds.

Shortly after, around 4:15 a.m., officers responded to the Goldfinch Drive area in Paradise after gunshots were reported outside of a home.

Police said the house was damaged, and a man inside the home was treated for minor injury resulting from the gunfire.

On May 26, around 2:45 a.m., patrol officers responded to the area of Thorburn Road in St. John’s after receiving several reports of gunshots in the area.

While officers did not initially find any evidence of gunfire in the area, police later recieved a report of property damage caused by gunfire at an apartment building, Thorburn Terrace, on 78 Thorburn Rd. and began investigating.

Police said investigators have established a connection between the shootings — which are believed to be targeted — and a criminal network in the metro St. John’s area.

A St. John’s man has been arrested in connection with the investigation. He is charged with aggravated assault and robbery.

Police believe the events are targeted and said the incidents have shown a severe disregard for public safety.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are asking that anyone with information about the incidents contact RNC at 729-8000 or tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers.

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2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://saltwire.pressreader.com/article/281582359255361

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