MAN SHOT IN MARIJUANA GROWING OPERATION RIPOFF

RICHMOND - A 38-year-old Richmond man is in hospital recovering from
a gunshot wound sustained in a marijuana growing operation ripoff
Saturday night.

The man was shot in the stomach after three masked men reportedly
kicked in the door of the house where he lives at 3551 Sexsmith Rd.
looking for pot.

Police did find marijuana growing in a garage behind the dilapidated house.

"There was about a 200-plant grow-op in an outbuilding," said RCMP
Cpl. Peter Thiessen. "Whether there will be charges laid against the
victim is not clear at this point."

It's unclear if the three men managed to make off with any pot before fleeing.

A neighbour said RCMP searched not only for the three suspects, but
the victim as well.

"Someone from the house, they said, had been shot at," said the
neighbour, who added she fears for her safety and did not want to be
identified.

She saw police carrying bags of marijuana from the house, so if
thieves managed to steal any, they didn't get it all.

Police have not released the name of the victim, whom the neighbour
said has lived alone in the house for several years.