THE Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has identified Saturday’s homicide victim in Burnaby as 29-year old Gagandeep Sandhu of Abbotsford in hopes of advancing its investigation.
It says that initial evidence suggests this was a targeted shooting, though the motive remains unclear.
On September 16 at 5:07 p.m., Burnaby RCMP responded to a report of shots fired in the 3400-block of North Road. Police found a deceased man inside a parked vehicle in an underground parkade.
Shortly after, a vehicle fire was reported in the area of Greenwood Street and Bainbridge Avenue in Burnaby. Frontline officers located a black Honda Pilot engulfed in flames.
According to a press statement from Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. (CFSEU-BC) in August 2016, Gagandeep Singh Sandhu, 23, who was alleged to have been involved in the Townline Hill gang conflict in Abbotsford at the time, was charged with one count of possession of controlled substance, one count of unauthorized possession of restricted/prohibited weapon, one count of possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon with ammo.
Police seized a .223 AR-15 variant mini assault rifle; a .223 calibre ammunition, in excess of 100 rounds; a .40 calibre handgun; a .22LR calibre handgun; magazine with 7 rounds of .22LR ammunition; a bag with 200 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition; various small baggies of marijuana, heroin, and fake oxycodone; approximately 1 ounce of cocaine; approximately 1 ounce of heroin; scales’ packaging; cell phones; a laptop computer; and brass knuckles from a residence in the 3200-block Sisken Drive in Abbotsford from where Sandhu and another South Asian male were arrested.
Earlier in 2016, in February, Sandhu had been in Calgary where he was arrested in a violent home invasion. Sandhu, who police said was from Sherwood Park in Alberta, and another South Asian male from Calgary were arrested and charged with drug, robbery and firearm offences. They were also charged with forcible confinement, according to media reports.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took conduct of Saturday’s homicide investigation and continues to work closely in partnership with Burnaby RCMP, BC Coroners Service and the Integrated Forensic Identification Section (IFIS).
“IHIT is working closely with the RCMP’s forensic experts to process both scenes and to determine if they are related,” said IHIT Sgt. Timothy Pierotti of IHIT. “We’re asking any witnesses or anyone with dash-camera video who was in either area, to please come forward.”
IHIT is asking any witnesses or anyone traveling in the 3400-block of North Road or the area of Greenwood Street and Bainbridge Avenue in Burnaby between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, with dash cameras, to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
