Langley murder victim identified as Victoria criminal

Homicide investigators are looking for witnesses after the targeted murder of a Victoria man outside a Langley pub on Friday night.

Tyler Pastuck, 31, was shot to death just before midnight outside the Brown’s Socialhouse at 200th St. and the Langley Bypass, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said Monday.

A second man, Kyle Gianis, was wounded in the shooting and remains in hospital. Both men have criminal ties. Pastuck was convicted of manslaughter in a fatal beating outside his Campbell River townhouse in February, 2010. Before the slaying, he already had several assault convictions.

Gianis was convicted in 2008 of smuggling the chemical used to make methamphetamine into Washington state and sentenced to 13 years. He was transferred to a Canadian jail in June, 2012, and paroled in 2013.

Jail officials told his parole hearing that Gianis had been associating in Mountain Institution with “known members and associates of the UN and Dhak-Duhre gangs.”

Sources said Gianis has maintained ties to various drug gangs and could have been the intended target.

IHIT Cpl. Megan Foster said the two shooting victims “were known to each other and this shooting is believed to be targeted.”

Pastuck’s family has set up a gofundme page to help cover funeral costs and other expenses. On the page, they say Pastuck was supposed “to catch a flight to the Yukon for employment” on the night of his murder.

“Upon his arrival at the airport, Tyler was informed that his flight was cancelled until the next morning. To pass some time, Tyler decided to phone a friend and together they decided to go to a restaurant for a nice meal,” the online note says. “Little did anyone know his fate would be so tragic that night.” The family is trying to raise $15,000. Foster said that after the murder, police found a burning vehicle a short distance away near the intersection of 203rd St. and 63rd Ave.

“At this time, it cannot be confirmed if this vehicle was involved in the homicide. Anyone with information about this vehicle is asked to contact the police,” Foster said.

She said IHIT continues to work with the Langley RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Section, and the B.C. Coroner’s Service.

Anyone with information is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-4448 or ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca