East Vancouver death is city’s 9th homicide of 2023

A body has been discovered at a home in East Vancouver and police say it has been deemed a homicide.

Officers were called to a vacant property near Renfrew and East 8 Avenue just before 10 p.m. on June 21, police said in a release.

A deceased person was found on the property by a passerby.

Police confirmed no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

About eight police cars remain on the scene Friday morning along with 12 officers.

1:43 Body discovered at East Vancouver Home

Several fire trucks and a hazmat unit, along with numerous police and a VPD mobile command centre, were on site Thursday.

At one point, officers backed a U-Haul truck up to a property where they hung a tarp to obscure view before apparently loading something inside and driving it away.

“We have investigators on scene investigating a suspicious circumstance. It’s all the information I have right now and when more becomes available I will share,” Const. Tania Visintin said Thursday.

This is the City of Vancouver’s 9th homicide of 2023.
Saul Schwebs, the city’s chief building official said a development permit for the land assembly in this area is currently under review but the city has not received any complaints against the properties.

He said all property owners in Vancouver must keep their property in safe and tidy conditions and any property with vacant buildings must be kept secure.

“If city staff observe an unsecure building or untidy property, they will work with the property owner to have it secured/cleaned up,” Schwebs said in a statement. “If needed, the city will hire a contractor to complete the work and recover the costs of this work from the property owner.”

1:44 Investigation continues at East Vancouver home

The current investigation centres on the same block that saw a significant police investigation involving both Vancouver police and Burnaby RCMP in November.

Vancouver police later confirmed that search was related to the killing of 30-year-old Kevin Liew, who was found badly injured near Burnaby General Hospital on Nov. 17.

At the time, police said they believed Liew suffered his fatal injuries at an abandoned house on the block.

“We don’t believe this was a random crime and we also don’t believe the public is at risk,” Visintin told a December news conference.

“There is evidence that indicates the victim knew who his attackers were. No charges have been laid and the investigation remains ongoing.”

Police have not commented on any potential connection to the Liew case.

-With files from Catherine Urquhart