Stray bullet kills 74-year-old man in Abbotsford, B.C.

Abbotsford police said Thursday they hope an innocent elderly man's death will help turn the tide in an escalating feud between two rival groups.

A 74-year-old man was shot by a stray bullet in what police are calling a targeted shooting intended for the victim's next-door neighbour.

The shooting happened sometime around 7 p.m. PT Wednesday night in the 3500-block of Promontory Court.

"I hope this is a watershed moment," said Const.Ian MacDonald of the Abbotsford RCMP, noting that the age range of the people involved in the feud is 15 to 25.

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​"We need people in the community to step up. We need parents to step up," said MacDonald who added he wouldn't characterize the groups as gangs despite there being drug gang connections to some of the people. 

Police are not yet identifying the 74-year-old.

​"He was a family man, a true victim by all senses of the word," said Sgt. Jennifer Pound of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

"There's a devastated family left behind to grieve this."

Police were called to the 3500-block of Promontory Court Wednesday evening after people reported hearing several gun shots. 

They discovered a car with bullet holes in front of a house where residents are known to police.

The innocent man's body was found soon after behind a fence on the adjacent property.

Earlier this year police installed surveillance cameras on the Townline Hill area street, in an effort to crack down on escalating violence between the two rival groups. 

IHIT is currently going through collected surveillance video.

As well, a public forum on community safety will be held at 7 p.m. PT, Thursday, September 10 at the Abbotsford Arts Centre.

Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT Tip Line at 1-877-551-4448 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.