The man gunned down in a mall parking lot this week was connected to another man who died in a brazen public shooting several weeks ago, police said Saturday.
Rakesh Ratnam Naidu, who was killed in a hail of bullets at the Oakridge Mall, used to associate with James O'Toole, who was shot in the back of a taxi on Commercial Drive.
"Anybody involved in this lifestyle, or on the periphery, is putting themselves at risk," said Vancouver Police Const. Tim Fanning.
Police are still hunting for three men in connection with the shooting, including a black man and an Asian man who were seen fleeing from the area.
Witnesses reported hearing as many as 20 gunshots from the parkade.
The hunt for Naidu's killers brought investigators to a quiet neighbourhood blocks away from Oakridge Mall. Police found evidence believed to have been tossed away from the getaway car.
"There were police around here yesterday, police vehicles, door knocking," said former Liberal MLA Tony Bhullar, who lives in the neighbourhood. He said the police were looking for surveillance equipment.
Police have not said whether Naidu was a member of any one specific gang -- they've only confirmed that he was seen associating with members of the Independent Soldiers.
Inspector Dean Robinson of Vancouver's Gang Task Force admits these kinds of cases aren't easily solved. The city has seen several high-profile public shootings, but no arrests have been made so far.
"Knowing what I know and who I know, I know these things are moving forward," said Robinson.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber
