Close to 200 people took part in a vigil for the Langley shooting victims on Wednesday night (Aug. 3) in Langley City.

Organized by Langley City and Township at Innes Corners Plaza, the event heard people express grief, shock and outrage at the shooting spree that targeted homeless people, killing two and sending two others to hospital before police killed the suspected gunman.

Langley City mayor Val van den Broek and acting Langley Township mayor Petrina Arnason both talked about the need to take concrete action on homelessness.

Addressing relatives of the victims, van den Broek said Paul David Wynn, 60, and Steven Furness, 43, the two men who died, 鈥渨ill live in our hearts, and our actions, I promise you that.鈥�

鈥淧eople shouldn鈥檛 be living on the streets like animals,鈥� van den Broek declared, 鈥渋t鈥檚 so wrong.鈥�

Arnason also called for change, saying 鈥渨e need to do more, we will do more, but I want you to know that everybody is coming together as a community to share the grief and burden of this situation.鈥�

One of the people who spoke was Robert Osborne, who knew Furness.

Osborne said Furness had his troubles, but 鈥渉e had a heart of gold.鈥�

鈥淗e did not deserve this,鈥� Osborne said.

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Langley City resident Heather Hogarth was looking for her homeless son when she drove by Innes Corners Plaza, saw the vigil, and decided to speak out.

鈥淢y son has been shot twice,鈥� Hogarth revealed, 鈥渙ne year apart.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e been lucky, twice.鈥�

After she spoke, Hogarth told the Langley Advance Times that her son, who is partially paralyzed from his gunshot injuries, was nearby when one of the shootings occurred.

鈥淗e was right over there,鈥� Hogarth said, pointing at the parking lot where one person had been critically wounded.

Jean Moulton called the shootings 鈥渢errible,鈥� and made a heartfelt plea for better treatment of homeless people, reminding the audience that they are all somebody鈥檚 child.

鈥淕ive them a little compassion, they鈥檙e human beings,鈥� Moulton said.

Langley Vineyard Church pastor Leith White talked about losing his brother two years ago.

鈥淗e had spent most of his life on the streets鈥� White said, telling the families 鈥淚 understand what you鈥檙e going through and my heart is breaking.鈥�

Kim Snow, founder of the Kimz Angels charity that assists the needy and homeless in Langley, called for action.

鈥淚t鈥檚 too late for the sorry,鈥� Snow said, 鈥渋t鈥檚 time to do something.,鈥�

Both Langley MPs spoke. Langley 鈥� Aldergrove Conservative Tako van Popta called the targeting of homeless people 鈥渃ompletely unacceptable,鈥� and thanked police and first responders for protecting the community. Cloverdale 鈥� Langley City Liberal MP John Aldag said Langley 鈥榟ad an evil inflicted鈥� on it, adding 鈥渨e need more, and we need more now.鈥�

More photos from the Wednesday vigil may be viewed online at the .

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