Indian-origin man killed in targeted shooting in Canada’s Burnaby; gang link suspected

A 28-year-old man of Indian origin was killed in a targeted shooting in Burnaby, British Columbia, an incident investigators believe is linked to the ongoing gang conflict in the province.

The shooting took place shortly before 5.30 pm (local time) on January 22 near the 3700 block of Canada Way, as per the statement issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Frontline officers responded to reports of gunfire and found the victim suffering from critical injuries. Despite life-saving efforts at the scene, he was pronounced dead.

Police said that within minutes of the shooting, officers also discovered a vehicle fully engulfed in flames in the 5000 block of Buxton Street, several kilometres from the site of the attack. Investigators are treating the burnt vehicle as directly connected to the homicide.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has taken over the probe and formally identified the victim as Dilraj Singh Gill, a resident of Vancouver.

“At this time, IHIT investigators believe this was a targeted shooting,” police said in an update, adding that Gill was known to police and that the killing appears to have links to the ongoing BC gang conflict.

Sergeant Freda Fong of IHIT reportedly stated that the incident has caused significant concern because it occurred in a public place. “A shooting, especially in a public area, is extremely troubling, not only for police but for the entire community,” she said, urging witnesses to come forward.

Investigators are working closely with Burnaby RCMP, the Lower Mainland Integrated Forensic Identification Service and the BC Coroners Service to reconstruct the sequence of events and collect forensic evidence from both locations.

Police believe the suspect or suspects fled the scene shortly after the shooting and may have used the vehicle later found burning on Buxton Street.

IHIT has issued a public appeal for witnesses and video evidence, including dashcam or CCTV footage recorded between 5.00 pm and 6.30 pm on January 22 along Canada Way between Boundary Road and Willingdon Avenue, as well as in the Buxton Street area near Royal Oak Avenue and Forglen Drive.

Officers are also seeking footage captured earlier, between 4.30 pm and 6.00 pm, near Canada Way and Laurel Street, between Boundary Road and Gilmore Way.