The man killed on Saturday afternoon in a Coquitlam, B.C., neighbourhood is a 42-year-old man with “no obvious ties” to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.
However, investigators said they do believe this shooting was targeted and have identified the victim as Mir Aali Hussain.
“The victim, Mir Hussain, was known to police,” Sgt. Frank Jang of IHIT, said in a release. “We have not yet determined if this is linked to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict.”
Reports of shots fired came in Saturday afternoon in the area of Henderson Avenue and Hart Street.
Police said they found Hussain on the ground beside his white 2020 Toyota Highlander with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A stolen 2002 red Buick Century with only one hubcap on the rear passenger wheel, left the scene immediately following the shooting and is believed to be the suspect vehicle, according to IHIT. There were at least two people inside and this suspect vehicle was seen driving in the area of Hart Street and Henderson Avenue for at least 20 minutes prior to the shooting, investigators added.
On May 23 the suspect vehicle was found by the Langley RCMP parked near 260 Street and 30A Avenue in Aldergrove. Attached to the vehicle were stolen licence plates that are believed to have been stolen in the Guildford neighbourhood of Surrey on May 22, according to police.
Investigators are now working to establish a timeline of Hussain’s activities leading up to his death.
A witness told Global News they looked across the street and saw someone running away with blue pants and a blue shirt on.
Anyone with information or dash cam video is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
In recent weeks dozens of shootings have taken place in busy areas such as malls and parks.
Early Saturday more information was shared about the deadly targeted shooting in Nanaimo that claimed the life of a man and investigators confirmed it is linked to the gang conflict.
The killing happened around 3:30 p.m. on May 20, near a Wendy’s at the Rock City Plaza.
Nanaimo RCMP said three suspects were arrested in connection to the shooting, but have since been released pending further investigation.
Thursday’s shooting marked the first time the ongoing dispute spread beyond B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
A shooting that happened in Calgary has now also been connected to the B.C. gang conflict.
Sources have confirmed the victim of the Calgary homicide, Gurkeert Kalkat, is the brother of Jaskeert Kalkat, the 23-year-old police say was linked to gang activity who was slain in the parking lot of a Burnaby Cactus Club on May 13.
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