The board that runs a Vancouver halfway house has decided to ban gang members -- and anyone else who could be a target -- from living there after a resident was gunned down this week not far from the house.
"We can't put our staff or the community at risk," said Frank Hunaus, who sits on the board of the Dick Bell-Irving House at W. 21st Ave. and Cambie Street.
Rajinder Singh Soomel, 35, of Surrey, B.C., was shot dead Tuesday night. He had recently been paroled after being convicted in March 2008 of attempting to murder Hardip Uppal.
Uppal was a witness in a trial against Soomel's younger brother, who is a convicted murderer.
Staff at the halfway house saw people watching the house for days. Then on Tuesday, two men came up to the door, pistol-whipped the attendant, and demanded information.
The men tracked down Soomel about a block away and shot him in the street.
Witnesses said they heard multiple shots and screeching tires.
Later that night, the police emergency response team stormed the halfway house. Police hauled away a man but police aren't saying what connection he has to the case.
No arrests have been made in Soomel's killing.
Other halfway houses are now looking at their policies. And the Correctional Service of Canada is reportedly reviewing its policies about how parolees who could be targets are released into the community.
Residents who live near the Cambie Village halfway house say they welcome this development.
"There's some concern about being next to a school and daycare centre," said Mike Kao.
John O'Meara agreed.
"Kids are in the neighbourhood. You worry about that."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jon Woodward.
