Vikram Toor and Ashim Raza were killed Friday night in a brazen shooting in the Fraser Heights area of Surrey next to an elementary school. Police believe the homicide is independent from other recent acts of violence in the Lower Mainland.
SURREY – Two young Indo-Canadian men were killed after a drive-by shooting in Surrey Friday night, and police believe the incident is independent from other recent acts of violence around Metro Vancouver.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has identified the victims as Vikram Toor, 24, and Ashim Raza, 19.
Surrey RCMP responded to calls of shots fired at about 7:20 p.m. at 110th Avenue and 159th Street in the Fraser Heights area. One of the men died at the scene and the other was taken to hospital, then died from his injuries.
Investigators are still trying to determine if the shooting was targeted.
“It is early in the investigation, but police are making every effort to establish the motive for the shooting. We ask that the public exercise vigilance, while we work to find justice for our victims and their families,” said Cpl. Meghan Foster with IHIT in a release.
Police forensics teams have been working overnight at 159th Street and 110th Avenue, examining a car with bullet holes and broken windows.
They believe the homicide is independent from other recent acts of violence in the Lower Mainland.
“It is early in the investigation, but police are making every effort to establish the motive for the shooting. We ask that the public exercise vigilance, while we work to find justice for our victims and their families,” said Integrated Homicide Investigation Team Cpl. Meghan Foster in a release.
“Obviously it’s concerning for the citizenry, and the neighbourhood, and the police that we have somebody out there so brazen to take somebody’s life,” said Insp. Keith Bramhill, a Regional Duty Officer with the Lower Mainland District RCMP.
One neighbour told CTV News violence has been escalating in the area.
“We only live half a block away from here, our kids go to school here,” she said. “We thought we’d moved 16 years ago to a very nice neighbourhood, and a couple of years ago a man was killed right there.”
Bouquets of flowers were placed at the scene of the shooting on Saturday.
More than 50 shootings have occurred in Surrey this year.
Anyone with information is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-4448, or by email at [email protected] or leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
