Homicide investigators say multiple suspects are at large after two teenagers were gunned down Sunday night at a residential complex in Surrey, B.C.
The Surrey Police Service says officers were called to reports of gunfire inside an underground parkade in the 7000 block of 133B Street shortly after 10 p.m.
Police found two people suffering from gunshot wounds who died at the scene despite life-saving efforts.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has since taken conduct of the investigation.
On Monday, the agency identified the victims as an 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, both residents of Surrey.
“Investigators are working with their families to understand the victims’ activities leading up to the shooting,” the agency said in a news release. “While the motive is still under investigation, investigators believe this to be a targeted incident related to the B.C. gang conflict.”
A car was later found burning near 144 Street and 84 Avenue.
The homicide team says the burnt grey four-door sedan is believed to be connected to the killings and investigators are working to identify the occupants, who fled the scene.
“This shooting has left two families grieving the loss of young lives taken far too soon,” said Sgt. Freda Fong of IHIT, in a statement.
“Extensive work is underway as investigators pursue all available leads to identify and hold those responsible accountable.”
‘Rolling gun battles’
Surrey Coun. Doug Elford was among multiple eyewitnesses to the shooting who said one of the victims managed to flee the parkade, but was chased down and fatally shot in the backyard of a nearby townhouse.
“Children shouldn’t have to see dead bodies laying on the ground,” Elford told CTV News at the scene Monday morning.
“We’ve lived through these rolling gun battles in the past—this neighbourhood, in particular,” he added. “It’s something that we’ve always demanded action from the police, but it’s very challenging when we get into these circumstances.”
No arrests have been made and investigators have not released any information about possible suspects or a motive.
Fong, the IHIT spokesperson, told reporters at a news conference that the shooting showed signs of co-ordination that are consistent with a targeted attack.
“There’s some organization in terms of carrying out the shooting, as well as the burnt vehicle after, so we’re definitely looking into two or more individuals,” Fong said.
The victims, despite their youth, had prior run-ins with police. “Those interactions involve contacts and connections to organized crime,” the spokesperson said.
Homicide investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or the vehicle fire to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Second shooting in a day
It was the second shooting in the city’s Newton neighbourhood on Sunday after two men were shot at a gas station early that morning.
Officers were called to the Chevron in the 7100 block of 152 Street just before 4 a.m. and found two men with gunshot injuries, the Surrey Police Service said in a statement.
The men were taken to hospital in critical condition.
No suspects have been identified and the motive for that shooting has not been determined, police said.
The homicide team is still exploring whether the two shootings are connected.
We’re not only alive to the shootings where there’s fatalities, we have to look at it in the grand scheme of things and the bigger picture,” Fong said.
“And so we are information sharing (with the Surrey police) to see if there is a nexus, but it is too early to say.”
Surrey mayor, police chief respond
Mayor Brenda Locke, in a statement, said she was “outraged” by the recent gun and gang violence in the city and questioned whether adequate police resources are in place to respond.
“Surrey has always invested heavily in anti-gang messaging and fully staffed a specialist gang unit. This was recently discontinued by the chief of police,” Locke wrote.
“It is critical that the Surrey Police Service have the right plan in place to combat gang violence in our city, and collapsing this unit at a time when we are experiencing heightened levels of gang violence sends the wrong message.”
SPS Chief Const. Norm Lipinski, in a statement of his own that did not mention the mayor by name, sought to “clarify recent public commentary regarding gang enforcement.”
He said some members of the department’s eight-person Gang Crime Unit were “repurposed” to respond to the rash of extortion-related violence.
“This decision was made to address immediate and serious public safety risks, not to diminish gang enforcement,” Lipinski’s statement said.
The plan, according to Lipinski, is to shift those members back to their regular duties in mid-June when more officers come on board and capacity increases.
B.C. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said operational decisions are the jurisdiction of the SPS, as they are with all municipal police forces.
“It is my expectation that every decision prioritizes public safety and frontline police capacity, and I am confident that the Surrey Police Service will continue to maintain public safety,” she said, in a statement.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Lisa Steacy
