'Several' homeless people are shot dead in 'targeted' mass shooting at multiple locations in British Columbia

Police described the gunman as a white male with dark hair wearing Carhartt coveralls and a blue and green camouflage T-shirt with a red logo on the sleeve. 

By Edward Era Barbacena

Several people were killed in a mass shooting early in the British Columbia city of Langley on Monday and a suspect was arrested, according to police.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed that officers responded to shooting scenes in multiple locations around the city of Langley and one location in nearby Langley Township beginning just after 6 a.m.

"We do have a male suspect in custody. However, we are ruling out any other outstanding individuals before we stand the emergency alert down," Langley RCMP Sgt. Rebecca Parslow told the CBC. 

Police described the gunman as a white male with dark hair wearing Carhartt coveralls and a blue and green camouflage T-shirt with a red logo on the sleeve. 

He was believed to be traveling in a white car.

Police said he acted alone and they believe he deliberately targeted homeless people. 

'In the early morning hours of July 25, 2022, the Langley RCMP responded to multiple report shots fired with several victims and several different scenes throughout the City of Langley and one scene in the Township of Langley,' police said.

'Out of an abundance of caution, an Emergency Alert was issued until investigators can confirm that the suspect was acting alone.'

An RCMP spokeswoman told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp that several people were killed, but did not specify how many.

Langley city, population 25,888,  is located in the Vancouver metropolitan area.

The Mounties asked residents to stay away from the shooting scenes at 200 Street and Langley Bypass, the parking lot of Cascades Casino on Fraser Highway and 204th Street and the Langley Bus Loop at Logan Avenue and Glover Road.

A Facebook video at 200 Street shows the tree-lined suburban shopping district blocked off with yellow police tape and a heavy police presence. A bicycle and a bedroll and backpack have been cordoned off by orange traffic cones

In a parking lot, a black Chevrolet SUV sits with eight bullet holes in the windshield and the driver's side door.

'It's a tragic situation,' Langley Mayor Val van den Broek told the MailOnline. 'Our hearts go out to those effected by this tragic event.'

She praised the RPMC for responding quickly and said that a counseling center has set up at the Langley Memorial Hospital to treat the family of the victims.