Richmond is facing its fourth homicide investigation of the year after a man was found suffering from ”apparent” gunshot wounds early Thursday morning in Talmey Neighbourhood Park, according to police investigators.
Police believe the man was targeted.
The RCMP Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is investigating the shooting death, after residents on nearby Regina Avenue reported gunshot sounds at around 12:30 a.m.
Under the cover of night television images showed a man receiving CPR on the scene. Half of the park was cordoned off by yellow police tape and a number of police vehicles surrounded the adjacent roads.
Two fire trucks and two ambulances were also on the scene as red and blue lights lit up the typically quiet neighbourhood.
On Thursday afternoon IHIT noted in a news release that it was withholding the victim’s identity until the family is notified.
“Investigators are looking to confirm the motive for this shooting and what we can say, at this point, is that this does appear to be a targeted homicide,” said Sgt. Jennifer Pound.
The park is connected to Talmey Elementary school and children bore witness to police tape cordoning off half the park, between capstan Way and Kilby Drive, as they walked to school later in the morning.
Assistant superintendent Wendy Lim said she was told by RCMP there was a “police incident” and was advised by police to keep students inside during recess and lunch.
Lim said she was at the school but wasn’t aware it was a homicide.
Richmond's 2014 Homicides:
Johannes Foo dead on Steveston Highway
