Police hunt for suspects after Metro Vancouver murder, shootings
Credit to Author: Kim Bolan| Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2019 01:47:59 +0000
Police across the Lower Mainland spent Monday hunting for suspects in three weekend shootings that left one man dead in Surrey and two others in hospital in Vancouver.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team released dramatic footage of a suspect fleeing the scene at Saturday’s murder of Surrey resident Kristijan Coric, 29.
Dressed all in black, the suspect ran through traffic after shooting Coric at a gas station in the 18600-block of Fraser Highway and was nearly struck, IHIT Sgt. Frank Jang said.
“From the information gathered so far, investigators have determined that a black male ran away from the shooting site and got into a silver sedan driven by a second black male,” Jang said.
Burnaby RCMP later located a burnt-out silver sedan near Willingdon Avenue and Kemp Street that “is believed to be associated to the earlier shooting,” Jang said.
Coric was known to police, but had no specific gang affiliation. In 2013, he was arrested after police found cocaine and heroin “speedballs” in his car during a routine traffic stop in Surrey. He lost a court bid to have the evidence thrown out. He was also convicted for driving without a licence in 2010, which he unsuccessfully appealed.
“There is a great deal of momentum at this early stage in the investigation,” Jang said. “Our investigators and partners are diligently collecting the evidence and a phone call from the right witness could be the difference maker in this case.”
One person is dead after being gunned down inside a Mercedes parked at a Surrey gas station on Saturday evening.
Postmedia has learned that the man targeted in a Sunday shooting outside an East Vancouver restaurant is a senior member of the United Nations gang.
The 44-year-old Vancouver resident, who remains in serious condition, had been dining at the New Mandarin Seafood Restaurant at Kingsway and Gladstone when a gunman blasted him several times just after midnight.
The UN gang has been involved in a violent conflict for over a decade across Metro Vancouver with a range of rivals.
Most recently, the UN has been central in a battle for control of the lucrative Downtown Eastside drug trade with foes from the Wolf Pack, the Brothers Keepers and other independent traffickers.
And the UN has also been linked to the assassination of prominent Hells Angel Suminder “Allie” Grewal in Surrey on Aug. 2. Two alleged hitmen were caught and charged with first-degree murder.
RCMP and IHIT investigate after Suminder (Allie) Grewal was shot dead Friday morning at the Southpoint Exchange mall in South Surrey.
VPD major crime investigators are looking at all the possible motives for the UN shooting, as well as a second one at 4:30 a.m. Sunday near East Hastings and Heatley Avenue, Sgt. Aaron Roed said.
“Both investigations are very new and VPD investigators are not releasing any additional information at this time,” he said. “We do believe that these incidents are targeted.”
The UN gangster was on probation at the time of the shooting. He was convicted in July of assault, receiving four months probation and a $750 fine.
Both VPD and IHIT want anyone with information about the shootings to contact investigators.
Anyone with information on the Vancouver shootings should call the major crime section at 604-717-2541.
And IHIT is looking for witnesses who were near the murder scene or in the vicinity of where the car was burned to contact investigators at: 1-877-551-4448 or ihittipline@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
B.C.’s anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Agency says it is working closely with IHIT and other police agencies to gather intelligence and target those behind the uptick in gun and gang violence.
“The recent shootings experienced in the Lower Mainland District are a reminder of the level of violence individuals associated to the gang lifestyle are willing to go to with little or no regard of the risk associated,” Sgt. Brenda Winpenny said.
“The CFSEU-BC is working collaboratively with our policing partners, providing support via our specialized resources, such as the Uniform Gang Enforcement Team, analysts and intelligence sharing, ensuring our partners receive the support needed to develop strategies, addressing gangs and gang violence.”