Homicide investigators say they’ve arrested a man in two Lower Mainland murders that took place a year apart.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said 21-year-old Tyrel Hiue Ngyuen Quesnelle, AKA Tyrel Hieu George Mahoney Nguyen, was arrested Friday morning in Edmonton for the slayings of Jagvir Malhi and Randeep Kang.
“After months of investigation, IHIT investigators determined that both incidents were linked and involved the same individual,” said Cpl. David Lee Friday afternoon.
Quesnell has been charged with first-degree murder in the killings. Police say he is linked to the Lower Mainland gang conflict, but would not say what group or groups he has associations with.
Quesnell remains in custody in Edmonton, pending transportation to British Columbia.
Lee said the investigation remains ongoing, and are appealing with anyone with information to come forward.
Malhi, a former star basketball player and University of the Fraser Valley criminology student, was shot dead at the intersection of Simpson and Ross roads in Abbotsford on Nov 12., 2018, in what police have described as a case of mistaken identity.
Detectives released new photos of vehicles related to the case and renewed a plea for information in his murder just weeks ago.
Kang, a 27-year-old known gangster, was shot dead nearly a year prior on Oct. 28, 2017 in the 11300-block of Alpen Place in Surrey.
Another man was also shot in that case and taken to hospital with non-fatal injuries.
In both cases, a burning vehicle was found not long after the shooting and believed to be associated with the crime.