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Surrey RCMP investigate six shootings in two days

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NEWTON — Surrey Mounties are now investigating six shootings in two days.

None were fatal.

Four of the shootings, they say, are linked and police said they involved people in the low-level drug trade.

At a press conference Thursday afternoon, police said five young men are believed to be involved in the four "related" shootings: Sameh Mohammed, 20, of Surrey, Pardip Brar, 20, of Delta, Pardeep Singh, 20, of Surrey, Indervir Johal, 21, of Surrey, and Amrit Kular, 20, of Surrey. Johal and Singh were shot. None have been arrested.

Surrey RCMP Chief Superintendent Bill Fordy said police want to know more about their activities and that investigators are also looking for a grey Volkswagon Passat or Jetta, Black Acura TL and a white SUV.

"From the intelligence that has been gathered so far, there is nothing to indicate that these incidents are tied to organized gangs," Fordy said. "However, these people are clearly violent and have shown a complete disregard for public safety.

"For the citizens of Surrey, I offer you my commitment that we are working extremely hard on all of these events," he added. "Not only to solve the cases that have occured  but to safeguard against any further incidents."

Surrey city councillor Bruce Hayne also fielded questions at the press conference. He said Mayor Linda Hepner is "away on city business," but added, "She shares our concern, she shares our outrage," and she's prepared to put every resource available into stopping the gunplay.

'It's a terrible concern for us, obviously," Hayne said. "It's a matter of the safety of our sons and daughters and our community out there."

The most recent shooting — not believed to be linked to the Newton shootings — happened in Whalley, where a residence was shot at near 94th Avenue and 126th Street, at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

"Once police arrived all parties had departed, there have been no reports of injuries related to this shooting," said Surrey RCMP Sgt. Dale Carr. Less than four hours before, a  28-year-old Langley man was found suffering from a gun shot wound in Clayton late Wednesday night. The victim, who is known to police, was taken to hospital where his condition is serious but stable. Carr said this shooting "likely did not happen in Surrey."

"We do not believe that any of these events are tied to high-level gang activity," Fordy said. He added he couldn't provide specific details on what police think triggered the series of shootings.

Staff Sgt. Murray Hedderson said the Langley victim, whose name has not been released, indicated he was shot in a vehicle elsewhere and then "dropped on the road" where he was found just before midnight.  "It appears this was a targeted shooting," Hedderson said.

The fourth shooting happened at about 2 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of 80th Avenue and 132nd Street. Sgt. Dale Carr said a white SUV was spotted chasing a black Acura. "The SUV was seen shooting at the Acura type vehicle."

The Surrey RCMP Identification Section cordoned off the area and found a couple shell casings on the pavement.

"It was a busy time of the day, a lot of traffic in the are," Carr noted. "We'd really appreciate a phone call to the Surrey RCMP...even if it's something very, very small, all those little bits of information add up to a bigger puzzle for us and oftentimes we'll be able to get to the bottom of it with those little bits of information."

Newton shooting
An officer recovers a bullet casing at the scene of the latest shooting in Newton, Wednesday afternoon. (Photo: Tom Zytaruk)

Carr noted that people who lead "good, normal wholesome" lives are "fine," but  if you're a drug dealer, or are involved in any other sort of criminal activity, you're susceptible to angering somebody else that's in that activity, and likely getting shot at. That's what those types of individuals do — that's how they settle scores."

Still, the fourth shooting —mere blocks away from the others — happened at a busy intersection, in broad daylight.

"Absolutely something catastrophic could have happened," Carr conceded. "That's why it's deeply, deeply concerning to the Surrey RCMP and the community of Surrey, and that's why we're pouring as many resources into this as we can. We're going outside of Surrey to gather information, to gather intelligence, to get to the bottom of this. We don't want this type of activity to happen in our city; we've worked hard on a daily basis to put a stop to this type of stuff. So if you have information, please, it's incumbent on you, it's your duty, to come forward and give us that information so that we can move forward and put these people where they belong, and that's in jail."

A police dog was brought in to help with the investigation and there were orange pylons and yellow evidence markers on the ground. The cordon was lifted shortly after 3 p.m.

One woman at the scene, who asked that her name not be published, said she heard a single shot fired at about 1:30 p.m., but she didn't see anything.

"There was a bang," she said. "I thought, 'Oh my God, there's another,'" she said, referring to a spree of shootings lately in Newton.

"That's what I heard. Bang, that's it."

Nick Elivera, who runs Pro-Tech Auto Repair just steps away from the scene, said there was a shooting in the area last Sunday. He said police were at his shop collecting video footage on Monday.

On Tuesday, police were called to Surrey Memorial Hospital at 4 a.m. to find a man suffering from gunshot wounds.

Then, at 5:50 p.m., police seized an abandoned vehicle that they suspect was used in the shooting. About an hour later, the second shooting happened near 127th Street and 78th Avenue. Witnesses told police a vehicle pulled up alongside a black vehicle and shots were fired, striking a 21-year-old Surrey man who was then taken to hospital in serious but stable condition.

Then, at 11 p.m., police responded to calls of shots fired near 128th Street and 76th Avenue. Several vehicles sped away from the scene but there were no apparent victims, Carr said.

"It's a spree — we feel strongly they're linked to one another," Carr said. "There's some sort of a heated battle going on, we don't know what it is."

Carr said a lot of police officers are on these cases, including Surrey RCMP's gang enforcement team.

Police ask anyone with information to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.

SHOOTINGS IN SURREY THIS WEEK:

— On Tuesday, March 10 police were called to Surrey Memorial Hospital at 4 a.m. to find a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was treated and released later that day.

— A second shooting happened at roughly 7 p.m., also on March 10, near 127th Street and 78th Avenue. Witnesses told police a vehicle pulled up alongside a black vehicle and shots were fired, striking a 20-year-old Surrey man who was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition. He has been released from hospital.

— A third shooting happened hours later, at 11 p.m. on March 10. Police responded to calls of shots fired near 128th Street and 76th Avenue. Several vehicles sped away from the scene but there were no apparent victims. Four dark-colored vehicles were seen speeding away.

— On Wednesday, March 11 police responded to reports of shots fired near 80th Avenue and 132nd Street at roughly 1:30 p.m. Shell casings were found at the scene. Witnesses say they saw a white SUV chasing a black Acura TL. Occupants in the SUV leaned out the window and shot at the other vehicle.

— Just before midnight Wednesday police found a 28-year-old Langley man suffering from a gunshot wound in Clayton. Surrey RCMP suspect he was shot outside of Surrey. The shooting is believed to be drug-related.

— On March 12, at 3:30 a.m., shots were fired at a residence near 94th Avenue and 126th Street. Police don't think this is related to the other shootings. There have been no reports of injuries.

tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com



About the Author: Tom Zytaruk

I write unvarnished opinion columns and unbiased news reports for the Surrey Now-Leader.
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