Indian-origin man shot dead in Canada’s Burnaby, police suspect gang link – Firstpost

An Indian-origin man has been shot dead in the Canadian town of Burnaby, with investigators suspecting the killing is linked to the ongoing gang conflict in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland region.

Canadian police noted the 28-year-old man was killed in a targeted shooting on January 22 and believe the incident has a clear nexus to the wider BC gang war.

Shooting near Canada Way

The shooting occurred shortly before 5:30 pm (local time) near the 3700 block of Canada Way, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) declared. Officers responded to reports of gunfire in a public area and found a man suffering from critical gunshot injuries. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim was later identified as Dilraj Singh Gill, a 28-year-old resident of Vancouver.

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Targeted killing, gang link suspected

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) stated the shooting was targeted and appears to be connected to the ongoing gang conflict in the province.

Investigators also found a vehicle engulfed in flames near the scene and believe it was used in the crime. Police declared torching a getaway vehicle is a tactic commonly associated with organised gang violence in British Columbia.

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“A shooting, especially in a public place, is extremely troubling, not only for police but for the entire community,” IHIT spokesperson Sergeant Freda Fong remarked, urging witnesses and anyone with information to come forward.

Possible link to Abbotsford murder

Local media reports have suggested that Gill’s killing may be connected to the murder of another 28-year-old Indo-Canadian man, Navpreet Dhaliwal, who was shot dead earlier this month in Abbotsford.

Dhaliwal was allegedly associated with the Brothers Keepers gang, believed to be a rival group to the UN gang, with which Gill was reportedly linked.

Criminal backgrounds cited

According to the Vancouver Sun, Gill had prior convictions, including drug-related charges in 2021 and other offences dating back to 2016. Dhaliwal also had a criminal history and was reportedly out on bail at the time of his death.

After Dhaliwal’s killing, IHIT Corporal Esther Tupper described it as a “targeted and brazen shooting” carried out in the middle of the day.

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