Vancouver police responded to two armed carjackings and a drive-by shooting within two hours’ time early Friday morning throughout the city. Two people suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds, and a third person was shot in the leg, police said.
It’s unknown if the incidents are connected.
The first incident, a carjacking and theft, was reported shortly before 1:30 a.m. in the 19400 block of Southeast Ninth Street in east Vancouver, according to a police department news release.
The victim was checking his mail when a vehicle pulled up beside him. Two males approached and pointed a firearm at him. They stole his vehicle and cellphone, the news release states. The victim was uninjured, police said. His identity was not released.
His vehicle was found a few blocks away unoccupied, police said.
The suspects were described as males in their 20s, according to the news release.
Then, at about 2:45 a.m., Vancouver police were called to investigate a drive-by shooting in the area of Northeast Thurston Way and state Highway 500 in central Vancouver, a separate news release states.
The victims, a male and female, called 911 to report they were driving themselves to an area hospital after their vehicle was shot at by an unknown person. They both suffered life-threatening injuries, police said. Their identities were not released.
Finally, Vancouver police were called at about 3:30 a.m. to the area of MacArthur Boulevard and South Lieser Road in central Vancouver for a report of an attempted carjacking and shooting, a police news release states.
The victim was stopped at the intersection when another vehicle pulled up and a male exited. The male pointed a gun at the victim and ordered him out of his vehicle. He then shot the victim in the leg, according to the news release.
The victim’s injury appeared to not be life-threatening, police said. His identity was not released.
A second suspect attempted to steal the victim’s vehicle. However, it has a manual transmission, and he was apparently unable to drive away, police said.
The suspects fled, police said.
The Safe Streets Task Force is investigating all three incidents. Anyone with information is asked to call the Vancouver Police Tip Line at 360-487-7399.
