The man gunned down in a brazen drive-by shooting outside Abbotsford’s West Oaks Shopping Centre on Sunday has been identified as 25-year-old Harpreet Chahal.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team confirmed Monday that Chahal was known to police, and the daylight shooting is considered targeted and gang-related.
Witnesses told police they saw shots fired from a suspect vehicle into a black Mercedes on South Fraser Way and Emerson Street at around 5:15 p.m.
“This shooting occurred in a very public place where innocent people could have easily become victims. We are urging anyone with information to come forward,” Sgt. Jennifer Pound said in a statement.
Officers found Chahal unresponsive and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside the Mercedes shortly after.
The victim was pronounced dead in hospital, despite attempts to revive him.
Investigators believe there were other people in the car with Chahal who fled the scene when gunfire broke out, and are trying to identify them.
Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-4448, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 if they wish to remain anonymous.
