In what may be the most brazen shooting yet in Metro Vancouver’s latest spurt of gun violence, a 28-year-old man was shot dead near the international departure terminal at the Vancouver International Airport on Sunday.
On Monday, police identified the victim as 28-year-old Karman Grewal.
An SUV described as a red or maroon coloured Honda Pilot fled the airport with at least two people inside, police said.
Police temporarily closed multiple key routes in and out of Richmond as they responded to the gunfire and Richmond RCMP say the suspects opened fired as they fled the scene.
Richmond RCMP’s Chief Superintendent Will Ng said one of his officers was shot at by someone in the suspect’s vehicle near Sea Island Way and No. 3 Road.
He said the officer was not hurt and did not fire back. He instead ended his pursuit in the interest of public safety.
At least two people are believed to have been in the suspect’s vehicle and remain at large.
Sgt. Frank Jang with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the victim is known to police and the attack is believed to be part of the ongoing gang conflict around the Lower Mainland.
“I think we’re all tired of the violence that’s been taking place on our streets. There comes a time where there’s just no further words. ‘Please do the right thing’, ‘please don’t kill one another,’ ‘stop the violence’ apparently it’s falling on deaf ears,” Jang said.
“It’s time to get down to work, find these people, put them in jail,” he added.
A witness who asked not to be identified out of fear for their safety said they saw several people dressed in black outside the departures terminal, two of whom fired more than a dozen shots.
Global News observed a white Mercedes with the door still open remained behind police tape at the departures terminal, and an area on the sidewalk was covered by a blue tent.
A torched vehicle was located in the 9700 block of Princess Drive in Surrey around 3:30 p.m. and Jang confirmed it is connected to the attack at the airport.
TransLink said Canada Line service to the three stops on Sea Island was temporarily disrupted but has since resumed.
In a brief statement on Twitter, YVR said the airport remained “open and safe with restricted access.”
Investigators are asking for dashcam video from the following time periods and locations:
- Around YVR between 2:30 p.m. and 2:58 p.m.
- Major highways and roadways between YVR and 9700-block Princess Drive in Surrey between 2:58 p.m. and 3:24 p.m.
- Area of 9700-block Princess Drive, Surrey around 3:30 p.m.
The Lower Mainland has been the scene of multiple targeted, gang-related shootings in recent weeks.
In the last two weeks alone there have been at least six shootings, five of them fatal.