The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has identified the victim in Thursday’s (Oct. 11) shooting in Newton as Surrey resident Sumeet Randhawa.
Randhawa, 30, died at the scene of the shooting, according to IHIT media relations officer Detective Lara Jansen. She said Randhawa was known to police and the shooting is “believed to be targeted” and he is “believed to be involved in the Lower Mainland gang conflict.”
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This is Surrey’s 10th homicide of the year, with seven of the victims dying by gunfire.
Jansen said IHIT is working with the Surrey RCMP Serious Crimes Unit, the Lower Mainland Integrated Forensic Identification Service and the BC Coroners Service. As it is early in the investigation, Jansen said, there are no suspects at this time.
The shooting happened just before 2 p.m. in the 6700-block of 130th Street, Surrey RCMP Corporal Elenore Sturko said. Police said 130th Street would remain closed for “a significant amount of time” between 64th and 68th avenues.
Jansen said she had no information at this time whether or not Randhawa lived where the shooting took place. She also said she was “not aware of any suspect vehicle at this time.”
We are on the scene of a shooting in the 6700 block of 130 Street. Police have 130th closed between 64th and 68th Avenue. An update will be provided when available. pic.twitter.com/QsPnooyCJ8
— Surrey RCMP (@SurreyRCMP) October 11, 2018
According to a news release from Surrey RCMP, police were called to the area after a report of a shooting. Once police arrived, the release reads, an adult victim was found suffering from “gunshot wounds.”
“Despite all attempts to revive the individual they succumbed to their injuries,” the release states.
The news release adds that based on initial information, “this does not appear to be a random act.”
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Surrey Schools spokesperson Doug Strachan said the shooting briefly put Martha Jane Norris Elementary School on a lockout for about 30 minutes. A lockout, according to Surrey Schools “is typically called in response to a danger that has been identified outside the school or in the surrounding school community.”
Some people on Twitter were saying other nearby schools were on a “lockdown,” but the Surrey Schools site describes a lockdown as a “response to a perceived life-threatening emergency either inside or in close proximity to the school building.”
Martha Jane Norris is located at 12928 66A Ave.
“It was unrelated to the school just a police incident in the area,” Strachan told the Now-Leader.
Strachan said the school was on a lockout from about 2:20-2:45 p.m.
There have been 33 shootings in Surrey in 2018. There were 59 shootings in Surrey during 2017, in 2016 there were 61 and in 2015 there were 88.
Anyone with information about Thursday’s shooting can call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. To remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
#SurreyBC pic.twitter.com/RS0GdYTbpA
— RandyCarson (@RandyCarson89) October 11, 2018
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