Hassan Omar Hassan charged for shooting at Barcelona nightclub, Vancouver

Witnessing someone shoot a gun at another person is undoubtedly an extremely traumatic event. To then act selflessly and give chase to stop the shooter, only to have the shooter turn and try to shoot at you, is exactly what two witnesses are coming to grips with.

At about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 13th, a man got into a verbal argument with the doorman of the Barcelona nightclub, a Barwatch member club, in the 1100 block Granville Street. The man left but returned shortly after 1 a.m. when, without warning, he allegedly pulled out a handgun and began firing several rounds at the doorman as he stood outside in front of the club’s doors, hitting him twice in the leg.

Both the bar and the immediate area were crowded with hundreds of revelers out enjoying the night. A witness, along with a doorman from a nearby nightclub, immediately gave chase when they saw the suspect stop shooting and start running away. They were quickly joined by two uniformed police officers who heard the shots from inside the nightclub while on a routine walk-through.

The suspect attempted to escape from his pursuers, but was captured in the 500 block of Davie Street. During the chase, the accused allegedly turned and tried to fire the gun at his pursuers but for some reason the gun didn’t fire.

Other officers rushed to the scene to help the victim, assist with the arrest, and secure any evidence, including a gun that was found near where the suspect was arrested. The victim was rushed to hospital, where he remains, for treatment of the two non-life threatening wounds.

Thirty-two year old Hassan Omar Hassan of Calgary, Alberta, has been charged with the following:

attempted murder with a firearm
use of a firearm during flight
pointing a firearm
possession of a prohibited weapon without a license
carrying a concealed weapon
Hassan is known to police, being currently accused in Calgary of firearm-, property-, and drug-related offences.

“There was a time when violence in the Granville Entertainment District was a regular occurrence,” says Constable Lindsey Houghton, “but Granville Street has now become a place where people of all ages can celebrate and feel safe.