An investigation that lasted for 7 years and included 7 different law enforcement organizations with over 315 police officers and 24 support staff has finally ended in the sentencing of a gangster. Tyrel Nguyen was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 27-year old Randeep Kang in Surrey and the November 12, 2018 murder of 19-year old Jagvir Malhi in Abbotsford.
“What began as two separate investigations became a coordinated effort, made possible due to IHIT’s integration and strong partnerships with Abbotsford Police Department and the Surrey RCMP,” says Sgt. Timothy Pierotti of IHIT. “This was a complex investigation. I’m incredibly proud of all those that worked on this investigation and persevered over the passed seven years.”
The IHIT was deployed to Surrey on October 27, 2017 when Randeep Kang was found deceased. Gary Kang and Camilo Alonso were also targeted but they were not killed. The police said that all three individuals were associated to the BC Gang Conflict. Gary Kang was later
murdered in Surrey in 2021. Alonso was later murdered in Vernon in 2023.
On November 12, 2018 19-year old Jagvir Malhi was found deceased. The police said that Malhi was an untended target. “Malhi was a young university student with no history of criminality, however there were some individuals in his life that were involved in the [BC]
gang conflict,” said Sgt. Frank Jang of IHIT.
In April of 2019, with the assistance of CFSEU-BC, IHIT initiated project E-PROSPERITY, in order to streamline the investigations.
At the time of the homicides, Nguyen and the Kang brothers were affiliated to the Brother’s Keepers Group. Nguyen was arrested and charges were laid in 2019.
On November 27, 2023, following a 10-month long trial, a decision was rendered in Vancouver Supreme Court, with Nguyen being found guilty of the first-degree murders of Randeep Kang and Jagvir Malhi.
On January 11, 2024 Nguyen was sentenced to life imprisonment, with no eligibility for parole for 25 years.
Just like the complexity in the investigation, the court ruling was complex too. According to media reports Nguyen was a rapper. The B.C. Supreme Court judge found one of Nguyen’s songs was essentially a thinly-veiled confession to the 2017 murder of gangster Randeep (Randy) Kang.
The music video — along with testimony from a key police witness — was part of a body of evidence that convinced Justice Miriam Gropper Nguyen was guilty of the first-degree murders of both Kang and university student Jagvir Singh Malhi.
