Surrey Shootings Continue The Wave Of Violence That Has Gripped Surrey For Months!
Surinderpal Singh Hehar died after a gunman fired on him and a second man in Surrey’s East Newton neighbourhood, near his home but according to witnesses Hehar seemed to be the intended target as six bullets were unloaded on the passenger side of the car driven by the second man who had come to give him a ride to work. The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
SURREY – It was shooting number 51 in Surrey that killed a high profile field hockey man in the city Saturday night as he prepared to go to work at the Longshore with his co-worker-friend.
Surinderpal Singh Hehar died after a gunman fired on him and a second man in Surrey’s East Newton neighbourhood, near his home but according to witnesses Hehar seemed to be the intended target as six bullets were unloaded on the passenger side of the car driven by the second man who had come to give him a ride to work. The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
According to friends, Hehar, a longshoreman, was a beloved member of the Indo-Canadian field hockey club in Surrey.
Several club members told CBC news that it was their friend Hehar who had been killed as pictures of his had already began circulating on Facebook. But the friends declined to comment on tape to CBC and asked not to be identified.
“It is with profound grief, sorrow, and disbelief, that we announce the passing away of a great friend, a brother, a mentor and member of our club, Surinderpal Singh Hehar, earlier today. We, his friends, family members, his hockey fraternity, are all in a state of shock and disbelief at this,” read an announcement on the club’s Facebook page.
“In this moment of shock, we miss his ever smiling presence,” the post added.
“He was a great guy on and off the field and will be missed by all of us,” wrote Gutu Sidhu on Facebook.
Sgt. Stephanie Ashton, of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, said “investigators believe this to be a targeted shooting however at this point there is no indication this shooting has any connection to any other investigation within the Surrey area.”
No arrests have been made in the killing of Hehar but in a press release after the shooting, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team reassured the public that “safety is of paramount concern.”
Both victims were inside a car, when attacked in the 15000-block of 66A Ave. near 152nd St., around 1 a.m. PT. in an area of Surrey called East Newton.
Paramedics rushed the driver to Surrey Memorial Hospital. Hehar was taken to Royal Columbian Hospital, but could not be saved.
“Know him from more than a decade, always seems a nice, clean man with no involvement in any illegal activity. It’s a complete shock for local community, especially field hockey lovers,” said one friend who knew Hehar.
This was the 51st shooting in the Surrey and North Delta area since the beginning of March. Police believe many are linked to a dial-a-dope turf war, reported Surrey Leader newspaper.
Residents of the area say they have been rattled by the shooting.
“There’re a lot of kids on this street and it could have happened during the day… And it’s also right across from a school,” one resident told CTV News. “So it’s scary, it’s scary.”
Meanwhile, police are also investigating a shooting at another house in Newton, in the 14200-block of 62A Avenue, that happened late Monday night.
“The home was occupied but no one was injured in the home,” Surrey RCMP Sgt. Paul Hayes said.
Witnesses saw a masked South Asian man running from the scene.
“Police also received calls from within the residence reporting that shots were fired toward two people who were in the garage,” Hayes added. “The two intended victims are known to police and it is believed that this was a targeted attack. At this point, the victims are not being cooperative with police.”
That was shooting number 52.
Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email investigators at [email protected]
