A 12-year-old B.C. girl whose father was gunned down exactly three years ago is asking for the public's help to track down the killer.
Thirty-four-year-old Christopher Whitmee was shot dead when a gunman burst into the restroom of the Legacy Show Lounge in Surrey on May 16, 2009. Investigators believe Whitmee was just an innocent bystander and say he had no connection to gangs, drugs or crime.
Whitmee's daughter Lexus issued a statement on the anniversary of his death Wednesday, saying she never stops missing him.
"Whoever did this to my dad and to my family is out there somewhere just living their life like everyone else, maybe even having fun times and doing things with their own kids, and it's because of them that I'll never get to do that again with my dad," she said.
"I want to know that the person who stole my dad from me is locked away, and I want to be able to not wonder every day who and where this person is."
Lexus's mother, Heather Burkholder, said the shooting robbed her daughter of her innocence.
"She has hopes and dreams like every kid that he'll never see. She dreams of joining the FBI and one day getting married and having children of her own. He wasn't given the chance to hear her speak of these dreams and see her when she speaks of them," Burkholder said in a statement.
She described her daughter as a "fighter" who will do whatever it takes to see Whitmee's killer behind bars.
"Lexus was the best gift ever given to me, and I will do everything I can to see that she is able to rest better, knowing that the person is no longer out to hurt anyone else," Burkholder said.
A 28-year-old man who investigators believe was the intended target of the shooting was also injured in the gunfire. He recovered from his wounds and has not been identified. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the case remains open, but like most targeted gang-related killings it has been difficult to solve.
Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-IHIT or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
