The suspect in a fatal stabbing in White Rock this week remains at large and investigators are keeping tight-lipped as to whether they’re any closer to catching them.
Standing on the spot where Kulwinder Sohi took his last breath, Sgt. Timothy Pierotti from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team implored anyone with video from White Rock on April 23 to come forward.
At 9:26 p.m., White Rock RCMP were called to the 15400-block of Marine Drive and found Sohi on the White Rock Promenade, suffering from fatal stab wounds.
“We need the public to come forward to help solve cases like this,” Pierotti said on Friday.
On April 21, Jadinder Singh was stabbed in the neck while sitting on the promenade with his wife around 9 p.m. on Sunday. He was seriously injured but is expected to survive.
While Pierotti said there are similarities between the two stabbings, he said police have not drawn a link between the two at this time and he cannot confirm it is the same person responsible for both incidents.
“We’re not going to jump to conclusions here,” Pierotti said, adding that White Rock is a safe community.
Witnesses described seeing Sohi in a physical altercation with the suspect, before giving chase eastbound on the Promenade toward the parking lot adjacent to the Grand Chief Bernard Robert Charles (Pa-Kwach-Tun) Memorial Plaza, according to IHIT.
Investigators believe the altercation occurred after Sohi was stabbed. Following that altercation, both the suspect and Sohi ran east toward the railway crossing, according to Pierotti. It’s unclear at this time who was in front of whom and whether the intention was to chase the other person, or if they were both trying to get away from the scene.
“This occurred in a very public location. From our video review, we know there were many witnesses in the area. If you were there or parked in the area, now is the time to call IHIT,” Pierotti said.
“We will continue to work tirelessly, supported by the White Rock members as well as the other I-Teams, to identify, locate and arrest the person responsible for this tragedy.”
RCMP have stepped up patrols in the area, and the province’s public safety minister said Thursday that catching the killer is a top priority.
“It’s very, very concerning. I can tell you police are throwing a significant amount of resources at this. They are confident they will catch the individual,” Mike Farnworth said.
“I have spoken with the deputy commissioner on this, and he is confident as well they will catch the individual. And when they do, I expect them to be charged, prosecuted, and given the nature of the crime being murder and assault, go to jail for a long time.”
The suspect in the attacks is described as a Black male and five feet 11 inches tall and was last seen wearing a hat and a grey hoodie with the hood up over the hat.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage from the area around the time of either attack is asked to contact the IHIT infoline at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
— with files from Simon Little and Janet Brown