A burned out car found in a remote area of east Richmond on Sunday night is believed to be connected to a fatal shooting in Surrey earlier the same evening.
Richmond RCMP confirmed to the Richmond News on Monday that Mounties and fire crews were called at around 9 p.m. to a suspicious vehicle fire in the 16200 block of Cambie Road, just east of No. 7 Road.
According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) in charge of the shooting, the vehicle, a dark colored sedan, is believed to be involved.
IHIT is appealing for anyone with dash cam video - who was near the areas of the shooting in Fleetwood, Surrey or the car fire in Richmond – to call them immediately.
Surrey RCMP were called to Evergreen Mall at 152 Street and Fraser Highway in response to shots fired in the parking lot of the shopping complex.
The victim’s body could be seen covered with a yellow tarp on the sidewalk in front of a Shoppers Drug Mart store, where a window was apparently showered with bullets.
The victim, 29-year-old Riyad Rasheed, was known to police.
Rasheed was known to police and his murder is believed to have been a targeted incident with links to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict.
“This was a brazen shooting in a commercial plaza with numerous members of the public in the area at the time of the incident,” said Sgt. Frank Jang, of IHIT.
“The perpetrators of this violence need to be held to account. They will now be targeted for prosecution.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551- IHIT (4448), or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
