WATCH: Family, friends and complete strangers gathered today to remember a Surrey husband and father Colin Hill who died protecting his family. John Hua reports.
A funeral was attended by friends, families, politicians and complete strangers today for Colin Hill, a popular Surrey realtor who was shot and killed in his home during an attempted break-in on July 12.
“His first instinct would have been to protect his family. It wouldn’t have occurred to him to do anything different,” said Barbara Hiebert, his cousin.
Investigators say the 42-year-old Hill tried to hold the door back from an intruder when he was shot. Hill was at home with his family at the time and although emergency crews tried to save Hill, who is a father of two, he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Who was Colin Hill?
“We did lose a hero. Not many people with his persona out there,” said Harman Bedi, a friend of Hill’s.
WATCH MORE: Colin Hill credited for saving his family
Hill’s son Matthew said in a tribute letter that no one in the world could ever replace his dad.
“The past couple days, I’ve been reading comments by people describing the type of man my dad was. How he was a happy, friendly, loving person that’s a huge family man. You guys are 100% correct. But he’s more then [sic] that. He’s also a role model, mentor, best friend, a hero and more. It doesn’t matter who you are. If you needed help, he would be there for you. My dad loved me, my sister and mom more then [sic] anyone in the world could ever. We all miss and think about him every second of the day.
My dad has raised and shaped me into the person I am today. Without him, I would never have became [sic] the guy I am today and I will do everything to try to become as amazing of a man my dad was.”
Twenty-two-year-old Khouri Lamar Green, who has an extensive criminal record and was on probation, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Hill’s death. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 14.
As people in Surrey grieve over yet another tragedy, local politicians are calling for more RCMP officers to be put on the streets. One hundred have been promised – but so far only six are in place.
“We talk about how many new police officers are going to be there, but where were we for the last 10 years, when those officers should have been brought in on a gradual, daily basis?” asked NDP MLA Harry Bains, whose nephew was killed in a shooting earlier this year.
Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner was even more blunt.
“This is not the first time that we have seen a prolific offender tragedy. One does have to question the entire system.”
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