Burnaby, 25 Jan

A 28-year-old Indian-origin man was shot dead in Burnaby, British Columbia, in an incident linked to the ongoing BC gang conflict, Canadian police have said.

The shooting happened shortly before 5.30pm on 22 January near the 3,700 block of Canada Way, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Officers responded to gunfire reports and found a male victim with critical injuries. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead.

Minutes later, police located a vehicle on fire in the 5000 block of Buxton Street, several kilometres from the scene. The authorities are treating this burned vehicle as connected to the homicide.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has identified the victim as Dilraj Singh Gill, a Vancouver resident. "At this time, IHIT investigators believe that this was a targeted shooting," police said. " Gill was known to police, and the shooting appears to have a nexus to the BC gang conflict."

Sergeant Freda Fong said the community remains unsettled, stating, "A shooting, especially in a public place, is extremely troubling, not only for the police but for the entire community." Investigators are working with Burnaby RCMP and forensic teams to reconstruct events.

Police believe the suspect or suspects fled shortly after the shooting, possibly using the burning vehicle.