The victim of the fatal shooting on Monday (March 23) at an Abbotsford homeless encampment has been identified by police as Wayne Versfelt, 69.
A press release on Thursday (March 26) from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said they are releasing Versfelt’s name and photo to “advance the investigation.”
Sgt. Freda Fong of IHIT said police believe the incident was “isolated and targeted” involving residents at the park-and-ride site at Whatcom Road and Highway 1.
She said people of interest have been identified and investigators are continuing to try to locate the individuals and “determine their roles in the shooting.”
Fong said the motive is still under investigation, but the shooting is not believed to be connected to gang activity or extortion.
“This is a tight-knit community, and we believe there are those with knowledge of the shooting who have yet to speak with police,” Fong said.
“Homicide investigators are still in the area, and now is the time to do the right thing.”
Officers were dispatched to the site at 11:11 p.m. on Monday for reports of a shooting.
Versfelt was suffering from life-threatening injures and was taken to hospital, but did not survive.
This is not the first time that Versfelt had been the victim of an attack, with another incident occurring in an Abbotsford homeless camp seven years ago.
On July 28, 2019, Versfelt was struck on the head and back five to 10 times with a machete by Bradley Wernicke.
Versfelt sustained significant injuries but was treated at the hospital and later released, while Wernicke was sentenced in 2023 to three years in jail.
Anyone with information about the March 23 incident is asked to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-4448 or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
RELATED: Man, 69, dies in shooting at Abbotsford homeless camp