A Vancouver man, aged 28, has been identified as the victim of a deadly shooting in Burnaby, B.C., according to homicide investigators. The incident took place near the intersection of Boundary Road and Canada Way, with reports of gunfire received just before 5:30 p.m. PT. Upon their arrival, authorities discovered the victim, identified as Dilraj Singh Gill, who tragically passed away despite rescue efforts.
Following the shooting, a vehicle was found ablaze on Buxton Street, believed to be linked to the homicide. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) disclosed that Gill had prior run-ins with law enforcement, with a criminal record associated with drug offenses and organized crime. The authorities stated that the shooting appeared to be targeted and related to the gang conflict in B.C.
Sgt. Freda Fong from IHIT expressed concern over the public shooting, emphasizing the importance of information from witnesses to progress the investigation and hold those accountable for the crime. This incident marks the fourth gang-related homicide in the Lower Mainland in a span of just over two weeks, following the deaths of three individuals with gang affiliations in Surrey and Abbotsford earlier in the month.
Investigators are now exploring potential connections between these cases and the recent shooting in Burnaby. Local resident Zeeyad Popat described hearing what he initially thought was a noise of someone shaking a rug, only to realize it was gunfire. He witnessed a masked individual leaving the scene before emergency services arrived to aid the victim.
Despite the tragic event, police assured the public that there is no immediate threat to safety. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information, including dashcam footage, to reach out to IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448).
