Hanif Jessa Was Shot Dead Outside His Burnaby Home Wednesday!
Hanif Jessa, an Ismaili-Canadian who was the night supervisor of street cleaning for the City of Vancouver, was fatally shot outside his Burnaby home on Wednesday, according to CBC news, even though Jessa has not been named publicly by the police or other officials.
VANCOUVER – The long-time Vancouver city employee who was shot dead in Burnaby on Wednesday has been identified as an Ismaili-Canadian man.
Hanif Jessa was fatally shot outside his Burnaby home on Wednesday, according to CBC, news even though Jessa has not been named publicly by the police or other officials.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson expressed his condolences after learning of Jessa’s fatal shooting, who he described as a “much-loved” city employee. But Robertson offered few details about the nature of the threat that put four city properties under heavy police presence yesterday.
“This is obviously a very disturbing event for city staff,” said Robertson at a media briefing Thursday.
“We are obviously stunned and saddened to hear the tragic news of the murder of a long-time city employee who was killed at his home in Burnaby.”
The city’s online employee directory lists Jessa as the night supervisor of street cleaning.
Jessa was shot shortly after noon PT Wednesday on a residential cul-de-sac in Burnaby. He was rushed to hospital, but later died.
By 1 p.m., Burnaby RCMP alerted Vancouver police that there was a potential threat to other people at the city, said Vancouver police Chief Adam Palmer, reported CBC news.
The city police sent officers to Vancouver City Hall, the Manitoba and National works yards, and the Crossroads building on West Broadway at Cambie Street.
At about 4 p.m., some city workers were told to evacuate the Crossroads building for the day, but were not told the nature of the threat.
Robertson said the city had not received any threats prior to the shooting, and he deflected questions about whether the shooting had anything to do with city workplace issues.
“I can’t speak to the issues with human resources at the city.… There’s nothing to suggest that this had anything to do with what happened yesterday.”
Flags at Vancouver City Hall are at half-mast following Jessa’s death.
On Thursday morning, Vancouver police announced they were scaling back their presence at city sites.
“As the risk to a City of Vancouver employee has been substantially reduced, the VPD are scaling back resources at work sites,” said police spokesman Randy Fincham.
It’s not clear what changed to reduce the risk, given investigators said Thursday afternoon no suspects have been arrested.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken over the investigation and is working with Burnaby RCMP.
RCMP Cpl. Daniela Panesar said that the “investigative theory suggests it may be targeted.”
