Police are calling on the public to help them locate the person responsible for killing a 20-year-old man next to a basketball court, where there may have been more than a dozen witnesses..On April 19, about 6:30 p.m., Coquitlam RCMP members rushed to Town Centre Park to investigate calls of a shooting..When police arrived, they found Bailey McKinney lying on the ground. He was pronounced dead at scene..“We believe this was a case of an individual being targeted for murder and not the park itself,” said Sgt. Frank Jang, of the RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT)..“Unfortunately, we know too well that these types of events can happen in any community.”.IHIT has control of the investigation and is working closely with the Coquitlam RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services and the B.C. Coroners Service to gather evidence..Now police are looking for anyone who might have seen something, or has other information that would help Mounties nab a suspect..“We are aware that there were several people in the immediate area when the shooting occurred,” Jang said..“Many of them fled the scene, understandably, from the shock of having witnessed a shooting. However, if you were one of those people, we need you to come forward now.”.McKinney was known to police, and cops said he had conflict with certain individuals who may be responsible for his murder..McKinney was due to be in court next month for a litany of charges — including drug charges and assault with a weapon, to using a firearm during a criminal offence, and uttering threats to kill or cause bodily harm — acquired late September when he was involved in crimes in Coquitlam..Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.Mike D’Amour is the British Columbia Bureau Chief for the Western Standard..mdamour@westernstandardonline.com
