RCMP BELIEVE SHOOTING WAS DRUG RELATED

CHARLOTTETOWN - The shooting last month of Donagh resident Rae
MacFarlane is believed to have been drug related, RCMP media relations
officer Sgt. Richard Thibault said this morning.

MacFarlane, 51, was shot more than once in his Donagh home in the
early morning hours of Jan. 17. The man was rushed to the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance with life-threatening injuries and
later moved to an undisclosed location, believed to be off-Island.

RCMP has indicated the shooting was not a random act and believe it
may be connected to the execution-style shooting death of MacFarlane's
brother Robert in 1997 in Halifax, N.S. The 34-year-old man was
murdered by a Quebec hit man who was a police informant on the Hells
Angels in Quebec. His murder was a contract killing.

"We have reason to believe there may be a drug relation," said
Thibault. "We are not excluding other possibilities. We really can't
go into details. The information we have been gathering so fair and
the people we have spoke to and other information we have collected
would lead us to believe that this is drug related."

The media relations officer said RCMP is still gathering information
regarding the shooting from neighbours, friends, family and others.

Thibault would not comment on whether RCMP have a suspect in the case
or is close to making an arrest. He also wouldn't comment on whether
the victim was able to provide police with a description of his shooter.

"This is one of the areas of the investigation we haven't discussed
publicly. We feel we are progressing in our investigation. We have
spoke to a few people of interest. We have other people we want to
talk to. I can't elaborate on if we have suspects or not."

Thibault admitted there is little RCMP can say about the
investigation, adding, "When we get into an act of violence like this
one we have to protect the investigation. It is an extremely serious
offence."

He did say the victim's physical condition is improving.

"The details as to the exact status of his condition, I can't get into
that due to privacy reasons," said Thibault, adding RCMP is still
trying to keep quiet the man's whereabouts. "The investigation is
progressing well. I can't disclose how close or far we are from an
arrest. There are a number of things that must be done."

He added the public has been instrumental in helping RCMP gather
information surrounding the shooting.

"We are still asking for the public's assistance."

Anyone with information that may help the case is asked to contact
their local RCMP detachment or Crimestoppers.