The 49th shooting in Surrey this year resulted in one man being killed and another injured.
While police are calling the shooting targeted and a result of the current conflict between groups in Surrey, family members of the victim, 28-year-old Jatinder “Michael” Sandhu, say it was a case of mistaken identity.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is investigating the double shooting that happened in the driveway of a home on 90A Avenue at about 10:20 pm on Saturday night.
Family members told Global News Sandhu and his friend, 29-year-old Sean Pasha, had just come home from coffee when the pair was gunned down in the driveway of the Surrey home. Pasha’s family, including his eight-week-old niece were inside the house at the time of the shooting.
“I was feeding my baby in the front room and I heard gunshots,” said Pasha’s sister, Mehwisha Pasha.
“I could see my brother from a distance and I could see Mike slouched over on the other side.”
Pasha was struck in the left arm by a bullet and Sandhu, who was shot in the head, did not survive.
Sandhu worked at a bank and was enrolled to get his real estate license. His family is speaking out because of the bright future that was stolen away.
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“This is not a drug hit, not a gang-related hit, this is mistaken identity of an innocent victim,” Sandhu’s uncle, Balkar Sandhu told Global News.
“This is a poor kid with a heart of gold, who would help you, who would give anything for you. I’ve known him for 28 years. I watched him be born, I’ve seen him grow up.”
IHIT confirms Sandhu and Pasha did not have criminal records and may not have been the intended targets.
Out of Surrey’s 49 shootings this year, it’s not the first mistaken target.
In April, the driver of a black BMW was shot in error in the area of 86A Avenue and 140th Street. Just before this incident Surrey RCMP revealed the majority of shootings in 2016 were caused by new players in a drug war.
READ MORE: Surrey residents on edge after third shooting in 3 days
For families and residents in the area, being caught in the cross hairs is terrifying.
“I’m so scared. Last night I was up all night looking through the blinds. I’m so scared, we don’t know who they are, we don’t know if they’ll come back,” Mehwisha said.
Despite their fear, the Pasha family said they want to protect Sandhu’s memory and send a message to those who pulled the trigger.
“You just killed an innocent person. How could they live with themselves,” Mehwisha said.
~ with files from John Hua
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