No injuries after suspected extortion shooting at Surrey home

Neighbours were awoken by gunfire in Surrey, as shots were fired at a home in what police say is the latest case of extortion-related violence.

Shots were fired at a home in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood early Wednesday morning, in what authorities believe was another extortion-related act of violence.

The gunfire was reported around 4:40 a.m. at a property near 57 Avenue and 148 Street, according to the Surrey Police Service.

“The residence was occupied at the time of the shooting,” the department said in a news release. “Fortunately, no one was injured.”

Officers did find damage to the home and evidence of gunfire, authorities said. They did not provide any further details on their suspicion that it was related to extortion.

Chief Norm Lipinski also shared updated statistics Wednesday on the ongoing problem of extortions in the city, revealing there were 20 extortion-related threats reported in April—down from 44 in January, but up from the 14 reported in March.

There were also two extortion-related shootings last month, down from 10 in January and three in March.

“These lower numbers do not lessen the impact on victims, but they do show that sustained enforcement, prevention and community engagement efforts are making a difference,” Lipinski said in a social media video.

“Our officers continue to actively pursue those responsible, disrupt criminal activity, and provide support to victims.”

The chief also highlighted progress the department’s Extortion Task Force has made on a handful of cases, including the arrest and deportation of Prabhjot Singh, a 20-year-old foreign national suspected of being involved in extortion activity.

The Surrey Police Service has also set up a website featuring the photos of extortion suspects, including Singh’s, in the hopes of generating more information from the public that can help their investigations.

The Canada Border Services Agency has opened 446 immigration investigations into foreign nationals suspected of links to extortion across the country, and issued 118 removal orders—55 of which have been enforced.

Authorities asked anyone with information on Wednesday’s incident, including surveillance or dash-cam video, to contact the Surrey Police Service’s non-emergency line at 604-599-0502.

Tips can also be left anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Todd Coyne