ABBOTSFORD SHOOTING VICTIM IDENTIFIED

Police have identified the 25-year-old Abbotsford man who died of
gunshot wounds following a drug related shooting early Tuesday morning.

Cpl. Dale Carr, of the integrated homicide investigation team (IHIT),
said the victim was Dustin Lee Wester of Abbotsford.

"We can conclusively say [the shooting] was linked to drugs," said
Carr. Investigators have established the shooting did not occur at
the spot Wester was found.

The shooting took place at rural property in Abbotsford where police
also discovered a large marijuana grow operation, Carr said.

"The next step will be doing thorough search of the property to see
if we can find anything to help in the homicide investigation, and
track down suspects and get their version of events," Carr said.

The white and blue farmhouse in west Abbotsford with its wrap around
porch was the centre of police activity Wednesday afternoon.

The driveway was blocked as Abbotsford forensic and IHIT
investigators, as well as police dog handlers, combed the idyllic
rural property.

A neighbour said they didn't hear any gun shots Tuesday morning, and
haven't noticed any unusual activity lately.

However, the house has a checkered past, they said.

"It's been an odd house over the years," said the neighbour.

"There was a shooting there four or five years ago and a drug bust
too, but nothing lately."

Wester died after being transported to the parking lot of the Shell
gas station at the corner of Mt. Lehman and Old Yale Roads.

Abbotsford Police responded to a call at 5:35 a.m. about a man
suffering from gunshot wounds at the shopping complex.

Officers arrived to find Wester sprawled in a white Toyota Sequoia.
Paramedics attended but were unable to revive the victim.

Two men who were with Wester were detained and questioned by Abbotsford Police.

Carr said he couldn't confirm if the homicide was the result of a
marijuana grow rip.

"We're trying to establish if that is the case," he said.

He said investigators are still sorting out how Wester and the two
witnesses are linked to the grow operation.

The two men, who reside in Abbotsford, are no longer in police custody.

"They are not charged with anything at this time," said Carr.

Wester and his two companions were not known to police before his
death occurred, he said.