WATCH: A dispute between neighbours lead to gunshots being fired on Panorama Crescent in East Courtenay. Dean Stoltz reports.
Police were at the scene on Parnorama Crescent in East Courtenay all day Saturday collecting evidence after shots rang out around 11:20 Friday night.
“Police attended the area and were able to confirm that shots had in fact been fired and there was a vehicle that had been damaged. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the area,” said Constable Monika Terragni of the Comox Valley RCMP.
Mike Dionne lives next door to a house in the 400 block of Panorama Crescent, that neighbours have complained to police about for some time.
He says he was with two friends working on a car in his shop Friday night when they heard arguing at the house next door.
“My buddy was out on the phone talking to his girlfriend and he heard some yelling and screaming next door and I guess there was an altercation and a fight going on or something so he went over to say you know we’ve got kids next door, calm down, and from what I hear the guy punched my buddy in the face and broke his tooth,” said Dionne.
It escalated from there when his other friend went to see what was happening.
“After that, some guy who’s known here came out with a rifle-looking gun and I believe it was two shots fired through the bush at him,” added Dionne.
Police responded quickly. Many residents saw officers with guns drawn in their backyards as police contained the area, but the suspect was already gone.
No one was hurt but the rear window of Dionne’s friend’s car parked on the road was hit by gunfire.
“So this is a very serious event especially in the Courtenay area where we consider ourselves to still be a small and relatively safe town. The police do take that very seriously and we do put all our resources forward to investigate the matter,” said Constable Terragni.
Mike Dionne says there have been problems with his neighbours for six or seven years, people coming and going at all times of the day, alleged drug dealing and fights on the street. He says he’s worried about his family’s safety.
“We have a six-month-old, a four-year-old and a seven-year-old boy living in our house with us and we can’t even allow them to come out and play in the cul de sac anymore,” he said.
Police are asking anyone with information about what happened here last night to call the Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321.
Dean Stoltz
