A Victoria man who opened fire with a semi-automatic pistol on the Strathcona Hotel early on the morning on Feb. 25 has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
“Society simply will not tolerate gun violence. … It is extremely fortunate that more people were not hurt or killed,” Justice Mary Humphries said Wednesday as she sentenced Dennis Grant Fletcher to eight years in prison for the attempted murder of doorman Andrew Morton. Fletcher also received 61⁄2 years, to be served concurrently, for the aggravated assault of doorman Michael Mizerski, who was hit in the thigh by one of at least 14 bullets.
Humphries also imposed concurrent sentences of five years and four years on Fletcher, who also pleaded guilty to discharging a prohibited firearm and possession of a loaded prohibited weapon without a licence.
Fletcher’s co-accused, Whitney Rae Furber, 26, was sentenced to three years in prison for possession of a loaded prohibited firearm without a licence. Furber was credited with the eight months she has spent in custody, which means she will serve 28 months in prison.
Humphries also imposed a 60-day concurrent sentence for dangerous driving and a two-year driving prohibition.
As they left the courthouse, both Mizerski and Morton declined to be interviewed. Mizerski made the brief comment, “Definitely positive,” as he walked by the waiting cameras.
At the sentencing hearing Tuesday, prosecutor Tamara Hodge told the court Furber and Fletcher had gone to Club 9one9 at the Strathcona Hotel that night to see a show featuring the Heavy Metal Kings.
When Fletcher was searched, the doorman found he was carrying more than $2,000. Fletcher was searched every time he came back into the club, said Hodge.
Just before 1 a.m., Morton noticed Fletcher was asleep and asked him to leave. Fletcher became quite angry. Furber became belligerent and aggressive when security started to remove Fletcher, said Hodge.
A video from outside the club shows Furber punching a doorman. Fletcher is also seen making a slashing motion across his neck and pointing an imaginary gun toward Morton and the staff.
Witnesses heard Fletcher make gun sounds and say: “You’re [expletive] dead. I’m going to find you on the street and kill you.”
The couple went to Furber’s car and a few minutes later, Furber pulled up in front of the club. Eight or nine people were standing outside when Fletcher fired at least 14 shots from a TEC-9 semi-automatic handgun.
A video shows several doormen diving for cover as gunfire rips through the area.
Mizerski was hit in the thigh.
In a victim impact statement read into the court record, Mizerski described how difficult it has been for him to cope with the panic attacks and fear since the incident.
“Every time I look in the mirror, there’s a bullet mark on the back of my hamstring reminding me that at 25 years of age I could have had my life taken from me.”
Windows were shot out and bullets struck the inside of the hotel, said Hodge. One bullet hit a chair where a cashier had been sitting moments earlier.
Furber sped away and a police chase ensued. Furber refused to stop, driving at 100 km/h down Hillside Avenue, at one point on the wrong side of the road. Police arrested her in Fernwood about 10 minutes later.
Fletcher was gone, but a tracking dog found the gun, his sweatshirt and more than $2,000 in cash. A search of Furber’s car turned up drugs, cellphones, a replica firearm and five shell casings.
When police searched their home, they found ammunition for the gun and more drugs.
Police arrested Fletcher three days later after receiving a tip he was at a motel.
Defence lawyer Jordan Watt said Fletcher has struggled with disabilities and has a longtime drug addiction. Fletcher had been consuming crystal methamphetamine heavily before the shooting and had not slept in three days.
Fletcher has remorse and his prospects for rehabilitation are real, said Watt.
“The offences are impulsive and immature. He made a horrible decision. Fortunately, no one was killed,” he said.
Furber has a good work history and a history of volunteering but she fell into the grip of drug addiction, said her lawyer, Michael Munro, who filed 24 letters of reference on her behalf.
Furber had been drinking and taking methamphetamine that night and said the offences were out of character for her.
Both offenders are prohibited for life from possessing weapons. Fletcher must provide a sample of his DNA.
After the sentencing, Victoria police issued a statement about the shooting.
“It cannot be emphasized enough that it was the actions of our citizens, working with our officers, that resulted in the arrest of these two individuals. During the manhunt for Dennis Fletcher, citizens kept our investigators informed with tips which ultimately assisted in him being captured without incident,” said Insp. John Craig.
“We are proud of our officers today. They have done an exceptional job, including our front-line officers, investigators, our forensics team, surveillance units, the Greater Victoria Emergency Response team and all of the units that worked together to capture this suspect, gather the evidence, and help prepare a solid case.”
