Homicide investigators have identified the victim of a shooting that shut down several roads in Burnaby Thursday evening.
Burnaby RCMP officers responded to reports of shots fired before 5:30 p.m. near Canada Way and Boundary Road, where they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds.
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The Lower Mainland’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says it has since taken over the investigation after the man died of his injuries at the scene.
In an update Friday morning, IHIT idenfitied the victim as 28-year-old Dilraj Singh Gill of Vancouver. Investigators say the killing appears to be connected to gang conflict.
Callers to 1130 NewsRadio reported seeing multiple police vehicles in the area of Canada Way and Smith Avenue Thursday.
Burnaby RCMP officers could also be seen in an alley off Royal Oak Avenue near Deer Lake Park, where a vehicle fire was reported, around the same time.
IHIT now says the fire “is connected to the homicide and police are actively working to collect more information about the vehicle.”
CityNews spoke to one local resident who says she heard what she thought were fireworks as she was coming home from grocery shopping.
After a minute of silence, the popping sound resumed, and she was alarmed.
“And then I heard a woman screaming for help,” the resident said.
“I was kind of in a blur at that point. Not knowing if I’m safe, if I’m not safe — like, what’s going on. My concern was for the screaming woman, and that was basically all I could do.”
She says the incident has shaken her feeling of safety in the neighbourhood.
“I just really think that our country and our city can do better.”
BC Emergency Health Services says paramedics at the scene did not transport any victims to hospital.
Investigators are asking witnesses or anyone with dashcam or CCTV video of the area to reach out to IHIT.
In response to the incident, Mayor Mike Hurley posted on social media, saying Burnaby remains a “safe and resilient city.”
“Incidents like this are rare, but when they happen, they shake our sense of security,” he said.
“We are grateful for the swift response from the Burnaby RCMP, but this incident underscores the need for greater regional and provincial support for policing resources.”
As of Friday morning, police have reopened the surrounding streets.
