Months after a home in Surrey, B.C., was targeted with gunfire in a suspected extortion attack, three foreign nationals have been sentenced to prison.
The shooting — along with what authorities described as a “small fire” — was reported at a property in the city’s Crescent Beach neighbourhood in the early morning hours of Feb. 1.
At the time, the Surrey Police Service alleged the incident was related to the ongoing rash of extortions plaguing the city.
Three suspects were arrested after trying to flee on foot then getting into a ride-share vehicle, and police announced Wednesday that each has since pleaded guilty and been sentenced in Surrey provincial court.
Taranveer Singh, who was 19 at the time of his arrest in February, pleaded to one count of reckless discharge of a firearm and was sentenced to five years, minus credit for time served.
Dayajeet Singh and Harjot Singh, who were both 21, pleaded guilty to throwing an explosive substance and were sentenced to 27 months and 25 months, respectively, minus credit for time served.
While none of the men were charged with extortion-related offences, the incident is still “believed to be extortion-related,” Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton of the Surrey Police Service told CTV News in an email.
Authorities have boasted progress addressing the rash of extortion-related threats in Surrey this year, revealing there were 20 such incidents reported in April—down from 44 in January, but up from the 14 reported in March.
There were also two extortion-related shootings in April, down from 10 in January and three in March.
Police have yet to release statistics on extortion threats reported in May.
