VANCOUVER Police on Thursday identified the city’s 13th homicide of the year as Amandeep Manj.
The 35-year-old was found dead in a vehicle on level three of the underground parkade of the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel near Cordova and Burrard streets Wednesday afternoon. Officers responded around 3:30 p.m. after the victim was found unresponsive by a witness. Paramedics attended and he was pronounced dead on scene.
Homicide detectives continue to investigate. No arrests have been made.
“Early this morning, witnesses called police to report a vehicle on fire near Charles and Penticton streets in East Vancouver,” said Constable Tania Visintin. “Our investigators are working to determine if there is a connection between this arson and yesterday’s murder.”
On Wednesday, Visintin said: “This brazen shooting happened in broad daylight at a popular tourist hotel in the city.”
She added: “VPD Homicide investigators believe the shooting was targeted. We are asking the public to remain vigilant while we find the person responsible.”
Anyone with information is asked to call VPD’s Homicide Unit at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
IN August 2009, The VOICE had reported that Vancouver Police Inspector Mike Porteous, Commander-in-charge of Project Rebellion, announced that they had arrested two main players of the Manj crime group, the chief rivals of the Sanghera group.
One of them was Amandeep Deep Manj, 23, who was arrested on August 6 as he was leaving his family home in the 3300 block of Fieldstone Drive, Vancouver. A search warrant was subsequently executed at this residence and two firearms were found – a 40 calibre semi automatic handgun and a 22 calibre zip gun. Ammunition was also located inside this residence.
Porteous also announced: “In 2008, during Rebellion, four members / associates of the Manj group, including Manj principal Aman Manj, were arrested by Rebellion staff and Vancouver ERT for an armed robbery of a jewellery store in Richmond. They were released on bail, and Manj continued to be investigated by Rebellion staff.”
In December 2018, Vancouver Sun’s Kim Bolan reported that Aman Manj’s brother, Jodh Singh Manj, 31, was gunned down after leaving a gym in a commercial complex in the Mexico City neighbourhood of Santa Fe.
The Manj brothers were reportedly connected to the United Nations gang.
