Police seek ‘witnesses, victims or associates’ of men charged after shooting in Surrey, B.C.

A statement from the Surrey Police Service says investigators are hopeful the pictures of 20-year-old Harshdeep Singh and 21-year-old Hanspreet Singh will prompt “additional witnesses, victims or associates” to come forward. (Handout)

Police released photos Wednesday of two suspects who were arrested and charged following a shooting earlier this week in Surrey, B.C.

A statement from the Surrey Police Service says investigators are hopeful the pictures of 20-year-old Harshdeep Singh and 21-year-old Hanspreet Singh will prompt “additional witnesses, victims or associates” to come forward.

Both men were arrested after police were called to a report of shots fired near 129 Street and 84 Avenue early Monday morning.

According to an earlier statement, Surrey police officers were already in the area and “heard what they believed was a gunshot” before locating and stopping a suspect vehicle.

A driver and passenger were taken into custody after authorities found a loaded handgun inside the vehicle, the statement said.

Harshdeep and Hanspreet, both foreign nationals, have each been charged with one count of occupying a vehicle knowing a firearm is present.

Harshdeep was also charged with one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, according to investigators.

Both men were held in custody pending a court appearance scheduled for Jan. 30.

On Tuesday, the Surrey Police Service said their investigation was ongoing and additional charges against the men could be forthcoming. The statement said police have also “engaged Canada Border Services Agency” in the investigation.

‘Charge them and deport them’

Surrey police have not directly linked Monday’s shooting to the ongoing rash of extortion violence gripping the city and the Metro Vancouver region.

However, in their latest update seeking information about the suspects Wednesday, police emphasized that tipsters who provide credible information about people involved in the extortion attempts are eligible for part of a $250,000 reward fund if the information leads to charges and convictions.

Former Surrey mayor Doug McCallum applauded the release of the suspect photos, saying such public disclosure is “the right move” for investigators.

“The community deserves to know who is involved,” McCallum said in a statement Wednesday connecting the shooting to extortion.

“Extortion thrives in the shadows. The faster photos are released, the faster people can recognize suspects, come forward, and help police dismantle these networks,” he added.

“Catch them, charge them, and deport them back to their country, and give the public the information that helps police make more arrests.”

Investigators are asking anyone with information about extortion-related crimes to contact the Surrey Extortion Tip Line at 236-485-5149 or Crime Stoppers.