Police have issued a new call for information on an unsolved murder that took place five years ago Wednesday.

As 28-year-old Brandon Hughes arrived at the gate of his North Vancouver home on July 23, 2009, he was gunned down. Hughes had been returning home from Vancouver’s Celebration of Lights fireworks show.

He died in the hospital from his wounds.

Police said Wednesday that they believe Hughes’ death was a targeted killing, one that occurred as a result of his association with gang members.

“Our investigation has determined that it appears that Mr. Hughes -- at the time he was killed -- was involved in criminal activity and associating with people involved in gangs,” Integrated Homicide Investigation Team leader Sgt. Adam MacIntosh told CTV News. “How he fits into that and why exactly he was killed is a part of what we’re trying to determine.”

MacIntosh said police are hopeful that people who had information about the killing five years ago but didn’t want to come forward then will feel able to do so now. Sometimes witnesses are afraid to come forward after a homicide, he said, especially if they’re involved in criminal activity themselves.

“Sometimes time and distance can change that,” he said. “People can be in a different place in their lives and have information and not know how to come forward.”

Anyone with information about the case can share it by calling MacIntosh and the IHIT team at 877-551-4448. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers by phone at 800-222-8477 or online at solvecrime.ca.

“We want to encourage those people who five years ago maybe were afraid to come forward or didn’t come forward,” MacIntosh said. “We want to hear from them now.”