The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) now says a shooting death in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood Tuesday was likely targeted and related to the B.C. gang conflict.
The Surrey Police Service was called to the area near 68th Avenue and 148th Street shortly before 7 p.m. after receiving reports of shots being fired into a vehicle.
Upon arrival, officers found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!IHIT says the victim, a 25-year-old man, was a Surrey resident. Investigators aren’t releasing his name as family notifications are still ongoing.
According to police, a second victim, another man, was transported to hospital with “reportedly minor injuries.”
BC RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark says officers are speaking to “a large number of potential witnesses” in the area.
“Extensive work is underway to interview those witnesses; however, anyone else who saw the shooting or knows the victims is asked to connect with investigators,” Clark said.
Video circulating online, which is reported to be of the incident, shows two individuals, dressed in all black, exiting a car armed with what appear to be assault rifles before opening fire. One victim can be seen evading the gunmen, crawling through the grass.
For residents living in the area, this is just yet another reminder of the ongoing gun violence that has plagued the city for some time.
“It’s a very unsafe area right now,” one resident told CityNews. “There is always something going on, police around here all the time. It’s just not great. It is a great city, but it could be better.”
Another neighbour speaking to our colleagues from OMNI News, says he rushed over to help, but it was too late.
“I was already calling 911, tried to offer first aid but he was already gone,” the neighbour said. “Then the police arrived and we cleared the scene.”
Homicide investigators are looking for CCTV or dashcam video from Tuesday night between 6 and 8 p.m. in the following areas, including nearby alleyways:
- 148 Street between 72 Avenue and 64 Avenue; or
- 96 Avenue between 123 Street and 125 Street.
In an update Wednesday afternoon, the SPS confirmed that a reported vehicle fire near the shooting is now under investigation as possibly connected.
Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-4448.
— With files from Kurt Black