MAN SHOT IN GROW-RIP GONE WRONG

One man is in hospital with gunshot wounds after a marijuana grow-op
rip in Maple Ridge went wrong Thursday afternoon.

Police are investigating the shooting after the man showed up at
Ridge Meadows Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. He was not taken
there by ambulance.

Police expect him to survive.

Police believe the shooting took place around 1 p.m. at a residence
at 11790 272nd Street, near Dewdney Trunk Road in Whonnock. The
RCMP's Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team entered the home and
found an illegal marijuana growing operation on the site.

"We don't know if this was a scenario where the individual was shot
entering the residence, or whether the individual inside the
residence was shot," said Ridge Meadows RCMP Inspector Derren Lench.
"But it appears to be a targeted home invasion."

Police have two men in custody. One man was related to the Whonnock
residence, while the other accompanied the injured man to the hospital.

Lench said they are still questioning both men and have not yet
determined what charges will be filed.

"This is the second incident in the last week involving firearms and
home invasions, what we'd call grow-rips," said Lench, adding that
another man was shot the previous week in grow-op rip-off.

Lench said the three incidents, all of which occurred in rural East
Maple Ridge, were likely unrelated.

"The public needs to know the individuals who are breaking into
grow-ops are armed, and those that are in the grow-ops are armed
themselves," said Lench. "This is a real concern to the police."

Assisting the Ridge Meadows RCMP on the scene was RCMP helicopter Air
Two, the Integrated Police Dog Services, and Integrated Forensic
Identification Services.

The investigation is ongoing.

. Anyone with any information is asked to call RCMP at 604-463-6251.
To remain anonymous call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CrimeStoppers will pay a reward of up to $2,000 for information
leading to an arrest and conviction.