Victim of targeted Surrey homicide identified as 24-year-old Delta resident

Homicide investigators say the victim of a targeted homicide in Surrey on Thursday has now been identified.

Twenty-four-year-old Amin Vinepal of Delta was known to police and associated to gang activity. Investigators believe his death was linked to other gang violence in the Lower Mainland.

They are releasing his name in an effort to determine his activities and who he may have had contact with prior to his death.

Police were called to a rural stretch of 12th Avenue between 176th Street and 184th Street around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).

IHIT Cpl. Frank Jang said responding officers arrived to find a deceased adult.

“The mechanism of injury is still under investigation. I myself have heard through social media that there are tipsters out there who have reported hearing gunshots,” he said.

“We need to find out who these tipsters are. I’m asking those people who may have heard or seen anything suspicious in that area today, you need to please come forward.”

Around the time the body was found, police were also called to a second incident nearby, this time a burning vehicle at 187th Street and 28th Avenue. Jang said that vehicle was burned badly enough that police are not able to identify its make or model yet.

Footage from the Global 1 helicopter at that scene appeared to show a police officer covering a second body, this one charred and lying next to a burned-out vehicle with a tarp.

Asked about the tarp on scene, Jang said police were at this point only investigating one homicide.

“I don’t have that information. Right now it’s our one victim that we’re looking at, and there are no other victims.”

However, he said that police believe the two crime scenes may be linked.

He said officers are now canvassing extensively around both crime scenes, and urged anyone with information to contact police.

Local resident Brandon Baylis said it was disturbing to see the incidents in an area he frequents.

“It’s hitting pretty close to home, it’s kind of scary, actually. I come out here and hang here all the time because it’s a nice quiet area, it’s kind of interesting that something that bad would happen here,” he told Global News.

“I probably won’t come here and hang much after this.”

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).