The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is looking into a fatal shooting in the Newton area of Surrey.
RCMP said they were called to 142 Street and 70a Avenue just before 1:30 a.m. Friday, where they found a 22-year-old victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
“The individual has been identified and I have no information to suggest that he is known to police,” Sgt. David MacDonald said.
The man died and IHIT has taken conduct of the investigation.
On Friday morning, there was a large police presence in southeast Newton, which residents describe as a quiet neighbourhood.
Police tape was blocking access to a number of homes on 70a Avenue near 142 Street. There is an elementary school and daycare within a block of the shooting.
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MacDonald said no arrests have been made.
The killing has the community-based, anti-crime group “Wake Up Surrey” speaking out.
Spokesperson Sukhi Sandhu says last November the federal government earmarked $326-million for anti-gang programs in cities, but since then he says Surrey’s seen none of that money.
“It is just shameful the lip service we’re getting from our federal government.”
And Wake Up Surrey is calling for action by new mayor Doug McCallum.
“We want the mayor to be very bold and demand the federal funding be forwarded asap.”
Sandhu says the RCMP and Surrey School District can only do so much to try and prevent gang violence.
Fleetwood-Port Kells Liberal MP Ken Hardie says the money is available to help cities like Surrey with anti-gang initiatives.
“As I understand it right now, the city has made some applications for using the money and I don’t know exactly where those applications are in the grand scheme of things, but the money is the active ingredient. But the plan really has to come from the city and the local police force, in this case the RCMP, and the money will be there when the plan is ready to go.”
Hardie says he too is frustrated by yet another murder in Surrey.
Meanwhile, Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum has issued a statement, saying the latest gun violence further emphasizes the need for the City of Surrey to have its own police force.
And he says he is dismayed by the resistance to this change being encountered at the provincial level.
Public Safety Minster Mike Farnworth has said he wants to see a plan from Surrey about transitioning from the RCMP to a municipal police force, before approving the move.
Last Monday night, the new City Council under McCallum approved a motion to make the change, which requires two years notice to the RCMP.
-With files from Gord Macdonald
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