Homicide investigators say they are still trying to parse the motive for a shooting in broad daylight Monday that left a man dead at a Surrey business complex. Police were first called to the area of 130th Street and 76th Avenue just after 3 p.m., where they found a victim suffering from gunshot wounds. The man died on the scene despite the efforts of first responders. In an update Tuesday, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team identified the victim only as a man in his 30s. The victim was at work on the second floor of the complex at the time of the shooting, IHIT said. Police said while the investigation is “in its infancy” they believe the shooting was targeted and are working with the victim’s family to establish a timeline leading up to the fatal event. IHIT added the victim had no criminal history and was not—at least reportedly—a previous target of threats of extortion. “This was a brazen shooting that showed a complete disregard for public safety, and it is fortunate that no one else was injured,” IHIT spokesperson Sgt. Freda Fong said, in a statement. “Investigators are actively pursuing a number of priority tasks to identify those involved.” Morning show host at Swift Radio Manimugdha Sharma was in the office at the time of the shooting, and while he says he didn’t hear the shots he experienced the commotion that followed as first responders flooded the area. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life before,” he told CTV News. Swift Radio’s station was hit with gunfire last year in an extortion attempt, but Sharma didn’t work there at the time. “I see bullet marks all over the place and it’s a terrifying thing by itself, but to hear that somebody got killed right next to your office I think is the most shocking thing that has happened to me ever,” Sharma said. He said people are on edge after yet another incident of gunfire in Surrey—especially as this one took a life. “We are concerned because this has happened right next door, it could happen to us again. We don’t know who is safe anymore in this city,” Sharma said. IHIT continues to ask anyone with information or video from the area to call 1-877-551-4448 or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
