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Man sentenced in relation to January 2017 drive-by shooting in Mission

Incident on Dewdney Trunk Road also involved apparent abduction
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Mission RCMP were on the scene of a reported drive-by shooting in the Stave Falls area on Jan. 10, 2017. (Mission City Record file photo)

A man who was involved in a shooting incident in Mission in January 2017 has been sentenced to an additional four years and four months in jail for two of the nine offences with which he was charged.

Thomas Strenja, 38, previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition.

Seven other charges were stayed at sentencing Oct. 5 in Abbotsford provincial court: one count of uttering threats, one count of kidnapping, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and three weapons offences.

According to court records, Strenja has been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 10, 2017.

RELATED: Three suspects in custody after shooting, hostage situation in Mission

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On that day at about 1 p.m., police were called to a reported drive-by shooting in the 30000 block of Dewdney Trunk Road (the Stave Falls area).

Police at the time confirmed that a person had been shot and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators soon determined that the suspects were holding a woman against her will in a vehicle.

Multiple police resources were dispatched, and the suspect vehicle was located and stopped in Coquitlam.

Three men were taken into custody – one was later released without charges – and several guns were seized.

The female victim was found to be safe and unharmed. Charges were announced the following day against Strenja and Joseph Ross Raso, 34.

Strenja initially faced two charges, but several more were later added.

Raso was sentenced in August 2017 to time served and one year of probation after pleading guilty to one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Five other charges against him were stayed.



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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