Kyle Gianis survived yet another attempt on his life on Saturday in 琉璃神社, the second this year 鈥� again in broad daylight.
Police believe the Pandosy Street shooting 鈥� which left a 25-year-old Surrey man with life-threatening injuries while Gianis was treated and released from hospital within the same day 鈥� was targeted due to Gianis鈥檚 criminal activity and associates. 琉璃神社 RCMP Insp. Beth McAndie said Gianis poses a 鈥渢hreat to our community and the public in general.鈥�
Mounties also confirmed investigators found an explosive device in the same area the shooting took place.
鈥淏ased on our examination, this device had the potential to cause significant damage to property and seriously injure members of the public that evening,鈥� said McAndie.
This kind of incident is nothing new for Gianis.
In March, Gianis escaped another targeted shooting in 琉璃神社 with minor injuries.
Shots rang out at a Burtch Road gym on March 29, with Vancouver Sun鈥檚 Kim Bolan reporting Gianis was the victim and later mocked his assailants on social media.
A suspect fled the scene in a car, later found on fire in a north 琉璃神社 neighbourhood.
Earlier that month, Gianis鈥檚 West 琉璃神社 home was raided by B.C.鈥檚 gang cops, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.
琉璃神社 Mayor Colin Basran called the latest shooting 鈥渧ery distressing and concerning.鈥�
鈥淚ncidents like this put the lives of innocent people and our first responders at risk and are not acceptable,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hankfully, gun violence is extremely rare in 琉璃神社.鈥�
The Vancouver Sun previously reported Gianis survived a 2017 gangland hit in Langley, that left his friend Tyler Pastuck dead, and a 2018 shooting in which the assailant entered the wrong home, killing Surrey nurse Paul Bennett.
In 2008, he was to 13 years in prison for smuggling ingredients used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine across the border. He was transferred to a Canadian jail in 2012 and granted parole in 2013.
Gianis runs a sportswear company in West 琉璃神社 called Iron Athletics Inc.
In April 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Gianis invited several bodybuilders to the Okanagan to film a series on training for the big stage.
He recruited five bodybuilders from across the country to move into a house to film a reality show. The group stayed in Gianis鈥檚 West 琉璃神社 home against the province鈥檚 health guidelines, which caused some scathing criticism.
鈥淧eople are threatening the group, and are telling us to kill ourselves,鈥� said Gianis at the time.
The RCMP has now released surveillance footage showing a suspect allegedly fleeing the scene of the Saturday shooting in hopes of identifying him. Witnesses spotted him leaving in a light-coloured SUV.
Mounties are urging anybody with information on the suspect to call the 琉璃神社 detachment at 250-762-3300 or anonymously leave a tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Editor鈥檚 Note: This story was updated to include further information from the 琉璃神社 RCMP.
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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