The police Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) had much of a Sikh temple in Richmond cordoned off over the weekend after a fatal shooting Friday night.
RCMP were called to the Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple on Westminster Highway at Nelson Road around 9:30 p.m. They arrived to find the body of a man inside a vehicle.
The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Edwin Shek-Yin Cheng, of Richmond. Cheng was known to police, but it’s unknown if the crime was gang-related.
IHIT says they spoke to several people who were in the area prior to the shooting, but there are no suspects as of yet.
Officers found Cheng shot dead inside a vehicle and don’t yet know why he was there, she said.
“At this time there appears to be no connection between the Sikh temple and the location of the murder,” IHIT’s Sgt. Stephanie Ashton said.
“We have no reason to believe the public is at further risk as a result of this targeted incident.”
Amrik Nijjar said the victim’s car appeared to have been removed and several police cruisers remained by the afternoon on Saturday.
Nijjar, a secretary at the temple, agreed with police that Cheng likely had no relationship to the place of worship.
He said members were focusing on carrying on with a sacred day of prayer and allowing police to continue their work.
“It’s always sad when a death occurs,” he said. “It’s a little bit stressful, but what can you do? It’s not in our hands.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email [email protected].
