‘WE WANT TO KNOW WHO DID IT’
Families of two slain teenagers seek answers — and justice
The grieving families of two teenage boys are seeking answers — and justice — for two lives that ended violently on a dark rural road in Surrey.
Jaskaran (Jesse) Singh Bhangal, 17, and Jaskarn (Jason) Singh Jhutty, 16, were found dead with gunshot wounds by the side of the road in the 18700-block 40th Avenue at around 10:30 p.m. on Monday.
Mandeep Bhangal said her nephew Jesse was a “great kid” who enjoyed working on cars and wanted to be a mechanic. He was set to graduate next year, and the family was excited about his future.
“Everything is taken away from us. It’s devastating. We all, as a family, we want answers. We want to know who did it,” said Bhangal.
A steady stream of people visited the Bhangal family home Wednesday, bringing flowers, comfort and condolences.
Standing beside her father, who carried a large framed photo of a smiling Jesse, sister Sharon appealed to the public for help in identifying her brother’s killer or killers.
“My brother Jesse was a good person,” she said. “He didn’t deserve to die like this. No one deserves to die like this. We want justice for both families.”
Standing silently, the dad wiped away tears and fought for composure. When Sharon finished her brief statement, his face crumpled and he turned to her.
She hugged him as if lending him strength. “It’s OK,” she told him. “Don’t cry.”
In another Surrey home, through tears and choked with emotion, Parmjit Jhutty said her son Jason was murdered after coming to the aid of his friend.
Jhutty said the boys were out together Monday night and were involved in a fight just hours before they were both shot dead.
“He was helping his other friend, Jesse, because there was a fight at the school,” she said. “He was trying to save his friend. They took both of them.”
Jhutty said her son, who was in grade 10 at Frank Hurt Secondary, was a “nice and helpful” son. He had a brother and a sister, and his father is paralyzed due to a stroke.
The families were at a loss to explain how the teens became the victims of what investigators believe is a targeted shooting.
“I don’t know why they would say that,” said Bhangal. “Our kids were 17 and 16. What could they be involved in? Our family, we don’t have a criminal record at all.”
The teens have no history with law enforcement. Cpl. Frank Jang of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said Tuesday that it was too early to say whether the deaths had links to drugs and gangs.
About 45 minutes before the teens’ bodies were found, Mounties found a burning vehicle near 184th Street and 29A Avenue.
A second burning vehicle, a Honda Accord, was found by police near 177th Street and 93rd Avenue at around 11 p.m.
IHIT said it’s investigating any links between the burnt vehicles and the shootings. Car fires have become an indicator of gang violence in Metro Vancouver and are believed to be an attempt to destroy evidence after a shooting.
Surrey school district spokesman Doug Strachan said libraries at Frank Hurt and another Surrey school were equipped with support counsellors.
“The library has been full in the schools connected to the students, and continues to be full as students and staff sup- port each other and talk to counsellors,” Strachan said.
Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner offered her condolences to the grieving families.
“It was so appalling and it had a profound impact on me when I heard the ages of the two young people who lost their lives so violently,” said Hepner on Wednesday. “As a parent I cannot express how devastating this is.”
Police are asking anyone with information about the vehicle fires or the deaths to contact investigators at 1-877551-4448.
Mandeep Bhangal echoed the plea. “Anybody from the community who knows anything, please step forward,” she said. “It has happened to our boy today, but it could be somebody else tomorrow.”
The last homicide involving the death of a Surrey teen was in January, when the body of 18-year-old Sach-deep Singh Dhoot was found murdered in the trunk of an abandoned car.
The age of those involved in gang violence, as well as their victims, are both getting younger, explained Sgt. Jag Khosa, gang intervention officer with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit in B.C.
“Lately there has been a huge drop in age,” he said. Khosa said he deals with 60 new cases a year on average.
Anybody from the community who knows anything, please step forward.”
Mandeep Bhangal, victim’s aunt