An 85-year-old man was killed by a stray bullet while in his apartment last month, according to B.C. authorities. Officers with the Burnaby RCMP were called for reports of shots fired around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 30, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said in a statement Tuesday. “The suspect vehicle fled the area prior to police arrival. Initial investigation did not locate any injured victims,” the statement from police said. Around 4 p.m., local Mounties were called to check the well-being of a man living in an apartment building roughly a block away from the location of the shots fired reports. “Police entered the apartment and located an 85-year-old man who had suffered a gunshot wound and was subsequently pronounced deceased,” the statement from IHIT said, going on to identify the victim as Chang Yong Cho. “Preliminary findings led investigators to believe the deceased was an innocent victim who was struck by a stray bullet from the earlier shots fired incident.” At a news conference, police stressed that there are people in the community—including young people and their parents—who have information that could assist the investigation. “It’s been made obvious that there’s been a shooting at this location, and that an innocent victim has died. The community is aware, and people are talking,” IHIT spokesperson Sgt. Freda Fong said. “We’ve approached many individuals. They know who they are, and we’re appealing to them to do the right thing—to come forward to talk to us.” Asked about the number of youth involved and their ages, investigators declined to comment—but did say they are all believed to be from the Lower Mainland. The shooting is not suspected to be gang- or drug-related and Fong described the underlying circumstances as a “personal dispute.” Fong also said the shooting served as a heartbreaking reminder of the risks and consequences of gun violence. “This was someone’s grandpa, this was someone’s dad who leaves behind a grieving and loving family,” she said. Both Fong and Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Kalanj said police will be doing everything they can to ensure accountability and justice in the case. “Every indication is that he was a lovely individual, a great person in the community, and we’re going to do everything we can for the family and for Mr. Cho,” Kalanj said. “What happened last week is every first responder’s nightmare,” he added. Investigators are also seeking witnesses and anyone with dashcam video from the area around 18th and Humphries avenues that was recorded between 12:30 and 2 a.m. on Aug. 30. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-877-551-4448 or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
