RCMP warns public about shooting victims
Police caution public to avoid interaction with unco-operative shooting victims
Surrey RCMP is warning citizens to stay away from five young men linked to the drug trade who have been targeted in recent shootings.
Asst. Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said the five — Karman Grewal of Vancouver, Manbir Grewal and Ibrahim Ibrahim of Coquitlam, and Indervir Johal and Harmeet Sanghera of Surrey — have refused to co-operate with police despite being victims in recent attacks.
“They have each been spoken to by investigators and although their lives are in danger, they have not provided statements to police,” McDonald told a Surrey news conference Monday. “As such, Surrey RCMP believes these people have become a risk to public safety.”
McDonald said though the release of victims’ photos by police is an unusual step, it is a reasonable one given the potential risk to the public and a tactic they have used in the past during escalations in gang violence.
The Mounties have issued photos of all five men
“We must assume that these men continue to be targets and, as such, we are advising the public to be cautious of any interaction with these five individuals,” McDonald said.
He said their friends, associates and relatives may not understand how serious the problem is and he is hoping the public warning will make the risk clear to them.
McDonald said there have been 27 shootings in Surrey so far this year — down 47 per cent from the same period last year.
But in July alone, there were six shootings and no co-operation from victims.
“I know the residents of this city are frustrated. I hear your concerns and I share your frustration,” McDonald said. “However, I want you to know that we are making headway and we are aware of a number of people who are involved.”
He said police will keep the pressure on the suspects in the violence until it stops.
Surrey RCMP is working with the anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, he said.
McDonald said the shooters are often lying in wait and therefore sitting suspiciously in idling vehicles.
He urged the public to be vigilant and call 911 if they see any suspicious activity.
McDonald wouldn’t provide details of the groups that are currently in conflict, but said they are involved in the Lower Mainland drug trade.
“These investigations are particularly challenging for police with victims who do not want to co-operate even though they know the identity of the suspects,” he said. “These investigations are complex and require many investigative steps to obtain proper evidence for arrests and successful prosecutions.”
After Surrey RCMP released the photos in 2015 of victims in an earlier rash of gangland shootings, several of the men targeted ended up being charged.
And back at the height of a gang war between the United Nations and Red Scorpion gang a decade ago, police in Port Moody and Abbotsford issued public warnings about anyone associating with the Bacon brothers and others in the gang conflict.
McDonald said investigators met with all five men over the weekend
We must assume that these men continue to be targets and, as such, we are advising the public to be cautious of any interaction with these five individuals.
to let them know their photos would be released.
And he said police have also spoken to their families.
In addition, there are ongoing criminal investigations across the region, he said.
“A long-term solution is to put as many of these people behind bars as possible.”
Anyone with information on the shootings that have occurred should call Surrey RCMP at 604599-0502.