News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Seven Chiefs Vowing To Escalate War On Drugs After 3 Shooting Deaths |
| Title: | CN BC: Seven Chiefs Vowing To Escalate War On Drugs After 3 Shooting Deaths |
| Published On: | 2004-11-11 |
| Source: | Province, The (CN BC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-21 14:35:27 |
SEVEN CHIEFS VOWING TO ESCALATE WAR ON DRUGS AFTER 3 SHOOTING DEATHS
The chiefs of seven Okanagan bands vowed yesterday to escalate their
war on drugs in the wake of three shooting deaths on the Penticton
reserve.
"These tragic deaths happened and now we're in a crisis, but it would
be an even greater tragedy if we didn't learn from these deaths -- we
have to step up our decade-long war on drugs," said Osoyoos band Chief
Clarence Louie.
The chiefs and councillors said cheap and addictive drugs like crack
cocaine are creating havoc with a vulnerable population, young and
old.
The chiefs agreed to try to develop their own Okanagan Nation criminal
code and to solidify their partnership with the RCMP and B.C.
Solicitor-General Rich Coleman to combat drugs.
"This is not just an on-reserve problem, it is everywhere throughout
B.C. and the RCMP is stretched so thin it is difficult for them to
make our drug-related problems on-reserve a priority," said Penticton
band Chief Stewart Phillip, who is also the president of the Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs.
"We have now experienced such horrible violence that we need to resist
being desensitized to this violence and normalizing more violence."
The three men were killed Oct. 29, the result of a simmering feud that
also left two men injured.
Family members say a drug-turf war was at the heart of the dispute.
Killed were: Quincy Paul, 29, Robin Baptiste, 24, and Damien Endreny,
20. Tommy Lee Gabriel, 31, was shot in the jaw and his younger
half-brother, Billy Gabriel, 18, was shot in the arm.
Dustin Paul, 24, a Penticton band member and cousin of Quincy and
Baptiste, is charged with three counts of second-degree murder and two
counts of attempted murder.
Oliver RCMP said a stabbing took place on the Osoyoos reserve on
Monday, the same day as the funeral for Endreny.
Cpl. D.M. Martin said Candice Kruger, 21, a Penticton band member, was
stabbed five times, treated at hospital and released.
Martin said police believe the stabbing is connected to "a wake
related to the funeral" and have recommended charges against a
15-year-old girl.
The chiefs of seven Okanagan bands vowed yesterday to escalate their
war on drugs in the wake of three shooting deaths on the Penticton
reserve.
"These tragic deaths happened and now we're in a crisis, but it would
be an even greater tragedy if we didn't learn from these deaths -- we
have to step up our decade-long war on drugs," said Osoyoos band Chief
Clarence Louie.
The chiefs and councillors said cheap and addictive drugs like crack
cocaine are creating havoc with a vulnerable population, young and
old.
The chiefs agreed to try to develop their own Okanagan Nation criminal
code and to solidify their partnership with the RCMP and B.C.
Solicitor-General Rich Coleman to combat drugs.
"This is not just an on-reserve problem, it is everywhere throughout
B.C. and the RCMP is stretched so thin it is difficult for them to
make our drug-related problems on-reserve a priority," said Penticton
band Chief Stewart Phillip, who is also the president of the Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs.
"We have now experienced such horrible violence that we need to resist
being desensitized to this violence and normalizing more violence."
The three men were killed Oct. 29, the result of a simmering feud that
also left two men injured.
Family members say a drug-turf war was at the heart of the dispute.
Killed were: Quincy Paul, 29, Robin Baptiste, 24, and Damien Endreny,
20. Tommy Lee Gabriel, 31, was shot in the jaw and his younger
half-brother, Billy Gabriel, 18, was shot in the arm.
Dustin Paul, 24, a Penticton band member and cousin of Quincy and
Baptiste, is charged with three counts of second-degree murder and two
counts of attempted murder.
Oliver RCMP said a stabbing took place on the Osoyoos reserve on
Monday, the same day as the funeral for Endreny.
Cpl. D.M. Martin said Candice Kruger, 21, a Penticton band member, was
stabbed five times, treated at hospital and released.
Martin said police believe the stabbing is connected to "a wake
related to the funeral" and have recommended charges against a
15-year-old girl.
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