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Fraser Arms shooting was 'targeted attack': Yellownife RCMP

A shooting near a Yellowknife apartment building that lead to high speed chase with police Sunday night was a targeted attack. 'The suspects and victim are known to one another, and known to police.'

'The suspects and victim are known to one another, and known to police,' RCMP say

Three men are in custody after a shooting at Fraser Arms Apartments late Sunday night. (Shannon Scott/CBC)

A shooting in downtown Yellowknife that lead to a high speed chase with police Sunday night was a "targeted attack," police say, following a preliminary investigation. 

"The suspects and victim are known to one another, and known to police," say RCMP in a news release. "Many avenues of investigation are being looked at including any possible ties to gang activity."

Two people are in custody and one man is in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after gunshots were heard at Fraser Arms apartments on 51st Street at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Police arrived at the scene, locating one male who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The man was taken to Stanton Territorial Hospital by emergency services.

'It was terrifying'

"It was terrifying and very, very quick," said Elizabeth Portman, who lives in Fraser Arms East.

"There were at least five shots, maybe 10, and then I could smell smoke. I've never smelled gun smoke in my life."

Portman, who lives on the ground level, said that's when she hit the floor of her apartment. She says she believes the shooting happened in a parking area outside Fraser Arms East.

"I could hear footsteps and running, and voices and stuff, but I didn't get up to look," she said, "because obviously that would be kind of dangerous to do.

"It's a lovely building. Very quiet, nice people. Never a problem ever," said Portman. "It's the last thing I expected to have happen here."

RCMP chase suspect through city

According to an RCMP press release, the suspect had already left the scene prior to police arriving.

"Police located the suspect vehicle in the Range Lake area and were preparing to perform a vehicle stop when the vehicle accelerated away," said RCMP spokesperson Elenore Sturko. "Police officers followed the vehicle."

Police chased the vehicle through the Finlayson Drive area. During the chase, the suspect hit at least one parked car, according to Sturko. Two police vehicles were also damaged.

A video submitted to CBC North by reader Andre Balasanyan shows the suspect vehicle hitting a parked truck as it evades RCMP. (WARNING: Explicit audio.)

The suspect vehicle stopped in Kam Lake's Grace Lake Boulevard as a result of damage sustained during the incident.

Kyle Sheppard uploaded a photo of a parked vehicle struck in the collision to Twitter, saying it was on Williams Avenue, between the Finlayson and Kam Lake areas.

Three people were taken into custody as a result of the incident, with one later released. No charges have yet been laid. RCMP say the investigation is ongoing.