Mount Pleasant shooting victim recounts his experience

H&Z Market assistant manager Mohammad Ali says he was shot in the leg while working at the convenience store near Main Street and 16th Avenue in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood on Sept. 6.

Ali said two men had tried to get a cab outside the store at about 4 a.m. One man did not get the cab and demanded that the store manager call another one, but the manager refused after seeing his behaviour outside.

The man returned close to 7 a.m., Ali said, looking for the manager. Ali told him the manager, who worked the night shift, had gone home and would return that evening. The man then asked Ali whether he had only one leg. Ali, who has both legs, said the man pointed to a gun beneath his jacket before shooting him in the leg.

Vancouver Police Department identified 32-year-old Victor Sorensen-Avila as the suspect. Kamloops RCMP took him into custody later that day in connection with an unrelated matter.

VPD media relations officer Const. Darren Wong said investigators identified and arrested Sorensen-Avila the same day. He has been charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. Police say he was known to them and had previously faced theft and firearms-related charges.

Ali said he is recovering one day at a time and that support from the community has helped him. A GoFundMe campaign for him has raised more than $44,000.