Fatal shooting of Burnaby teen may be connected to Surrey vehicle fire: IHIT
Homicide investigators are looking into whether a vehicle fire in Surrey on Thursday morning is connected to the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy in Burnaby hours later.
Mounties in Burnaby found the deceased teen with gunshot wounds in a vehicle shortly before noon, though investigators believe the shooting happened closer to 9 a.m. and was likely targeted.
“Investigators are working to determine if it was connected to the Lower Mainland gang conflict,” reads a statement issued Friday by the Integrated Homicide Investigations Team, which has taken conduct of the case.
Shortly after 9 a.m., IHIT says, a vehicle fire was reported in Surrey near 173 Street and 101 Avenue.
Investigators are now working to see if the scorched SUV, a white Nissan Rouge, is linked to the fatal Burnaby shooting.
Sgt. Timothy Pierotti of IHIT says the team will be speaking to neighbours and canvassing for video in both areas throughout Friday.
“If you were in either area between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. and have dash cam video, please contact IHIT immediately,” Pierotti wrote in the statement.
IHIT won’t release the name of the victim, but has confirmed that immediate family members have been notified.
Family friends have identified the boy as Jalal Rahimi, who lived in the Mulberry Place housing complex where the shooting took place.
A woman named Vik, who tells CTV News she’s lived there for nearly 30 years, says residents are still in disbelief.
“That shocked me and scared me,” she said. “Because the poor kid, from what I heard was in his car, he was just going to school."
The shooting took place in an underground parking lot at the complex.
“That’s terrifying," Vik said. "The majority of people in the bottom part of the complex park there, so now everyone is looking behind their back going to their vehicle.”
Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen anything or has surveillance video from near either scene to come forward.
IHIT can be reached by phone at 1-877-551-4448 or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc-gc.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Much of Canada is under an extreme weather alert this weekend: here's what to know
From snow, to high winds, to extreme cold, much of Canada is under a severe weather alert this weekend. Here's what to expect in your region.
Calgary woman stranded in Mexico after husband's death during diving trip
A Calgary woman is struggling to return home after her husband died while diving in Mexico, leaving her stranded and facing financial hardship.
Fugitive U.S. rioter seeks asylum in Whistler amid warnings of more to come
An American citizen convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill and dodging jail time in Whistler may just be the start of an asylum-seeking rush, according to a prominent legal expert.
'I gave them a call, they didn't pick up': Canadian furniture store appears to have gone out of business
Canadian furniture company Wazo Furniture, which has locations in Toronto and Montreal, appears to have gone out of business. CTV News Toronto has been hearing from customers who were shocked to find out after paying in advance for orders over the past few months.
Thirty years on, is Quebec headed for another independence referendum?
On the eve of the 30th anniversary of Quebec's second independence referendum -- the first one was in 1980 -- it seems the tide could be turning again. Legault is deeply unpopular after six years in power, and the Parti Quebecois, with a young, charismatic leader, has been ahead in the polls for more than a year.
Soldier who died by suicide in Las Vegas told ex-girlfriend of pain and exhaustion after Afghanistan
The highly decorated Special Forces soldier who died by suicide in a Cybertruck explosion on New Year's Day confided to a former girlfriend who had served as an Army nurse that he faced significant pain and exhaustion that she says were key symptoms of traumatic brain injury.
Man arrested after committing five bank robberies in 10 days: Toronto police
A man accused of robbing five Toronto-area banks in a 10-day period has been arrested by Toronto police.
Four puppies abandoned in northern Ont. rescued, rehomed
On New Year's Day, a pair had gone for a drive on northern Ontario backroads near Markstay-Warren to look at the local wildlife when they came upon four puppies in the middle of the road in the cold.
Special national Liberal caucus meeting called for next week after regional chairs meet: sources
A special meeting of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national Liberal caucus has been called for next Wednesday, sources say.