CHEK News has learned that the man shot and killed in Metchosin on Friday night has a violent criminal past, as well as possible gang ties.
On Friday, West Shore RCMP were called to the 4600-block of Sooke Road after reports of shots fired.
When they arrived on the scene to find, Shane Michael Wilson, 37, had been shot to death.
“This was not a random act of violence. Initial evidence gathered at the scene led investigators to believe that this was a targeted incident,” said Const. Alex Berube of West Shore RCMP.
However, police will not elaborate on what specific evidence led them to that conclusion, but say Wilson was known to police.
CHEK has confirmed that Wilson’s criminal rap sheet includes multiple violent incidents, including an assault causing bodily harm charge in 2011.
This past July, he pleaded guilty to robbery, unlawfully entering a dwelling house with intent to commit an indictable offence and having his face masked after committing a violent home invasion back in 2018. Wilson was sentenced to three years in prison followed by two years of probation.
Police won’t confirm, but several aspects of Wilson’s life point towards possible gang activity.
“The mask was described as red, with two gaping eyeholes, and the word ‘support’ in writing between the eyes. The victim recognized this as a Hell’s Angel’s Support garment,” reads a statement of fact from the robbery trial.
A friend of Wilson’s, who chose to remain anonymous, told CHEK on Sunday that he believes Friday’s shooting was gang-related.
Police didn’t directly answer when asked if they concerned about possible retaliation.
“At this stage, we’re not ruling out any possibilities as to what may have occurred or who may have been involved,” said Berube.
The suspect or suspects remain at large.
Ben Nesbit
