Photo by Jay Sharma of Mahi Photo Studio
BY RATTAN MALL
THE Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced on Wednesday that Pardeep Singh, 22, of Surrey, who was shot dead in the driveway of a home on Tuesday night, was known to police and was associated to gangs.
In fact, back in March 2015, he was one of five young South Asian males from Surrey and Delta who were named by then Surrey RCMP Officer in Charge, Chief Superintendent Bill Fordy, who said police believed these men were involved in four related shootings in Surrey a few days earlier. All five were known to police. They were identified as Pardip Brar of Delta, Indervir Johal of Surrey, Amrit Kular of Surrey, Sameh Mohammed of Surrey and Pardeep Singh.
The RCMP displayed photos of four of them – the photo that was missing was that of Pardeep Singh.
Photo by Jay Sharma of Mahi Photo Studio
Fordy said: “The four related shootings involve people who are involved in low level drug crime. From the intelligence that has been gathered so far, there is nothing to indicate that these incidents are tied to organized gangs. However, these people are clearly violent and have shown a complete disregard for public safety.”
IHIT Cpl. Meghan Foster told media that RCMP had met with Pardeep Singh at the time to warn him that his life might be in danger and offered him protection after he had been involved in four shootings in less than 24 hours. But he was not cooperative with police.
On August 29, at 8:45 p.m., Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a shooting in the 6300-block of 166th Street in Cloverdale. Police found a male victim with gunshot wounds in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked in the driveway of a home. He had succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team was called in.
Foster said: “Investigators are looking for a suspect vehicle described as a light coloured minivan that fled the area after the shooting occurred.”
Investigators are working to determine the motive behind the murder.
IHIT is working in partnership with the Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Section, and the BC Coroner’s Service to gather evidence.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448), or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Should you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
