Former Gang Enforcer Involved In Brutal Machete Attack Gets Almost Six Years

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A former gang enforcer who attacked two boarding house residents on the east side of downtown with a machete and was later found in possession of a loaded firearm was sentenced to nearly six years in prison.

Storm Shadow Peeace, 29, pleaded guilty to the assault on a couple on June 9, 2019 in the single room building at 375 Princess Avenue.

Along with two other men, Peeace entered a room and used the machete to cut one of the victims, nearly severing his thumb. When the other victim tried to kick him, he responded by hitting her on the leg with the machete. She required 40 stitches to repair the laceration.

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During the attack, one of the other men accompanying Peeace pointed a firearm at one of the victims, cocked it and said, ‘Give up, give up everything and you will not get hurt’ before using the gun to hit the victim. . repeatedly on his head and body.

Peeace and the other two men fled after one of the victims managed to pepper them.

He hid the machete in a nearby lane, but police recovered the weapon and tests revealed the presence of DNA linking him to the crime.

The victims initially cooperated with the police, but did not submit victim impact statements to the court.

In his sentencing decision, Provincial Court Judge Reginald Harris acknowledged the disruption the attack likely caused to a fragile community.

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“Specifically, pensions are home to some of the most vulnerable in society and I have no doubt that the violence and the resulting chaos likely caused fear in many who simply counted on living in a safe and peaceful environment.”

The judge noted that the defendant, who identifies as indigenous and had a “chaotic” and “horrible” upbringing, was born in Calgary and at age 16 was living on the streets, using drugs and was a member of The Fresh Off the Boat. gang.

He became an enforcer for the gang, but after a fight with the higher ups of the gang and fearing for his life, he fled to Vancouver.

Peeace, who has a long criminal history with crimes including robbery, assault, assaulting a law enforcement officer and carrying a concealed weapon, prepared a report on the impact of his indigenous origin.

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“Regarding Mr. Peeace’s moral guilt, the presence of the weapons, the number of people involved and the method of entry, it shows planning and deliberation that speaks of a higher level of guilt,” said the judge.

“However, the analysis of guilt also requires recognition of the role that Mr. Peeace’s indigenous origin played in leading him to the crime.”

Colonization and mistreatment of indigenous people contributed directly and indirectly to low self-esteem, trauma, addiction, poverty, low education and loss of support and guidance from the Peeace community, the judge said.

Peeace, who was also found in possession of a loaded semi-automatic rifle on September 8, 2020, received a cumulative sentence for the two offenses of five years and 10 months in prison. He was ordered to provide a DNA sample and was banned from possessing firearms for life.

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