Surrey ( Rajeev Sharma): A shooting inside a basement suite of a residential home in Surrey has left one man dead and another injured, prompting a homicide investigation by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). The incident occurred early Saturday morning at approximately 4:55 a.m. in the 12500 block of 91 Avenue, according to the Surrey Police Service (SPS).
Police said officers, along with BC Emergency Health Services paramedics and Surrey Fire Service crews, responded to reports of gunfire at the address. Upon entering the home, first responders located two adult men suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second was transported to hospital with injuries. His condition has not been publicly released.
IHIT has assumed conduct of the investigation due to the fatality. In a statement later in the day, investigators confirmed that the victim and the suspect were known to each other, and the shooting appears to be targeted, rather than random.
“The presence of gun violence in a residential area is a concern for communities and police,” said IHIT Sgt. Freda Fong.
Police have not released the name of the deceased or the suspect, and no arrests have yet been announced. Investigators are working to determine the motive and circumstances leading up to the shooting. IHIT also stated that the homicide is not believed to be connected to ongoing gang conflicts or recent extortion-related cases in British Columbia, and there is currently no indication of a broader public threat. The killing marks Surrey’s third homicide of the year, adding to growing concerns about violent crime in residential neighbourhoods.
Authorities are asking anyone who was in the area of 91 Avenue and 125 Street around the time of the shooting, or who may have dashcam or surveillance footage, to contact IHIT or Crime Stoppers.
