Vancouver rundown for Friday, September 12, 2025.
RCMP say two deadly Lower Mainland shootings
over the past week are linked to BC's gang conflict.
Last Friday, 24 -year -old Taryn Pander was found
shot dead in a taxi near 200th Street and 53
Avenue in Langley. On Wednesday, 34 -year -old
Shahab Abassi was gunned down outside the Burnaby
McDonald's at Still Creek just north of Highway
1. Both victims were known to police. RCMP say
the gang landscape is complex and fluid, with
those responsible for the shootings showing a
complete disregard for public safety. Other news,
Vancouver police have confirmed over half a million
dollars has been spent on the security detail
for Ken Sim since he was elected mayor. The VPD
says as long as there is potential for risk in
a very politically active city, All precautions
will be taken. Sims says he has been threatened
several times and his home pepper sprayed last
Halloween. The public may never know the details.
A judge has denied a request by a consortium
of media outlets. to report the mental health
history of the man charged in April's deadly
Lapu -Lapu festival in Vancouver. Provincial
Court Judge Reg Harris has upheld a publication
ban, saying publicizing those details could deter
future defendants from cooperating with court
-ordered psychiatric assessments. Kaiji Adam
Lowe is charged with 11 counts of second -degree
murder after an SUV was driven into a crowd of
people. at the Filipino street event. Metro Vancouver's
population growth forecast has been lowered due
to federal immigration cuts. Those with the regional
district now expect an annual growth of about
42 ,500, down from 50 ,000. Immigration is still
the main driver, projected to account for 90
% of the region's population growth. through
2051. A mix of sun and cloud for Friday, windy
at times, partly cloudy for Saturday, clouds
and showers on Sunday. For all the details on
these local Vancouver area stories, along with
those links, go to VancouverRundown .substack
.com.