Police warn against interacting with man injured in Surrey shooting

Surrey RCMP are warning that one of the men injured in a targeted shooting Tuesday afternoon poses a risk to public safety because of the continued attempts on his life, and are asking British Columbians to avoid interactions with him.

Thomas Gabriel Saul, 35, has been the target of recent shootings this summer including thedaytime attack Tuesday in the Fraser Heights area of Surrey. A second man was injured during that shooting and both were taken to hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

Saul, who is from New Westminster, B.C., is known to police and has a history of involvement with drug trafficking in the Lower Mainland and outside of the province, according to RCMP.

He was also the intended victim in a shooting in Burnaby in August. No one was injured in that incident.

RCMP saidSaulhas provided very limited information to the police about the shootings, even though his life is in danger. As such, officers said, he is considered a risk to public safety and to anyone interacting with him.

"Gun violence in our community is perpetuated through the continued demand for illicit drugs," said Cpl. Elenore Sturko in a news release.

"We are appealing to the community to reduce the demand for illicit drugsand to provide information which can assist us in our investigations."

Tuesday's shooting in Surrey is believed to be a targeted attack related to the drug trade in the area, RCMP said, and there will be an increased police presence there as officers canvass the area and gather evidence.

RCMP are also holding a neighbourhood outreach event in Fraser Heights on Thursday night to addressresidents' concernsin the wake of Tuesday's shooting.

"When a neighbourhood experiences a traumatic incident, particularly during the daytime hours, we know that people can have questions about safety," read a public notice issued Wednesday.

RCMP officers will be at the Fraser Heights Village Centre on Thursday evening from 4 to 7 p.m. PT.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the attack to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or go to www.solvecrime.ca.