Surrey shootings leave community concerned over gun violence

More than 700 people attended a Surrey community meeting on Tuesdayto figure out how to stop the violence on the city's streets.

Police have declared a gang turf war on the streets of Surrey that has spilled into Delta and resulted in 22 shootings and one homicidein six weeks.

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"It could be an out-of-control problem and that's one of the reasons we're trying to get together and look at alternatives and solutions," says one concerned residentLaliPawa.

The communityhas been gripped with fear and some children have been afraid to leave their home, other residents say.

"It pains me [that] a life has been lost amid this senseless violence ... and it has to stop," says Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner, who attended the community meeting."The full weight, all agencies are doing significant priority work on this file ... The missing link is the deafening silence."

'Deafening silence'

Police say they are being stonewalled by thefamilies of the victims who are not coming forward with information on the turf war between rival gangs of Somali and South Asian descent.

"The people who traffic drugs, people engaged in criminal lifestyle will try to exploit our students," said Surrey RCMP ChiefSupt. Bill Fordy, who is urging those with information to contact the tip line.

Another concerned parent, Meera Gill, says the tight-knit Indian community had hopedthat it didn't have to involve the police.

"We're hoping we can change the kids ourselves ...That's the reason we don't go ask the enforcement departmentto come in," she said. But she agrees things need to change.

"It would be a denial to say, 'Oh my kids are clean,'and no parent can surely say that.This is the reality."