Victim identified of fatal shooting at Abbotsford homeless camp<\/p>\n
Published 1:26 pm Thursday, March 26, 2026<\/p>\n
The victim of the fatal shooting on Monday (March 23) at an Abbotsford homeless encampment has been identified by police as Wayne Versfelt, 69.<\/p>\n
A press release on Thursday (March 26) from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said they are releasing Versfelt\u2019s name and photo to \u201cadvance the investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sgt. Freda Fong of IHIT said police believe the incident was \u201cisolated and targeted\u201d involving residents at the park-and-ride site at Whatcom Road and Highway 1.<\/p>\n
She said people of interest have been identified and investigators are continuing to try to locate the individuals and \u201cdetermine their roles in the shooting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fong said the motive is still under investigation, but the shooting is not believed to be connected to gang activity or extortion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a tight-knit community, and we believe there are those with knowledge of the shooting who have yet to speak with police,\u201d Fong said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHomicide investigators are still in the area, and now is the time to do the right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officers were dispatched to the site at 11:11 p.m. on Monday for reports of a shooting.<\/p>\n
Versfelt was suffering from life-threatening injures and was taken to hospital, but did not survive.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time that Versfelt had been the victim of an attack, with another incident occurring in an Abbotsford homeless camp seven years ago.<\/p>\n
On July 28, 2019, Versfelt was struck on the head and back five to 10 times with a machete by Bradley Wernicke.<\/p>\n
Versfelt sustained significant injuries but was treated at the hospital and later released, while Wernicke was sentenced in 2023 to three years in jail.<\/p>\n
Anyone with information about the March 23 incident is asked to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-4448 or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.<\/p>\n