Notorious gangster killed in targeted shooting, unknown victim stabbed to death
Two homicides this weekend drew heavy police presence to South Vancouver’s Sunset neighbourhood and the West End’s Davie Village.
At 1:30 a.m. Sunday, a 28-year-old man was shot outside Fraserview Banquet Hall on Fraser Street near South East Marine Drive.
Police say they performed CPR on the victim until paramedics arrived, but he died at the scene.
Video from the scene shows his body covered by a grey blanket being loaded into the back of a truck by first responders. A white tent and several yellow evidence cones were also seen.
Police say the shooting was targeted and related to B.C.’s ongoing gang conflict.
CFSEU-BC, the province’s anti-gang police agency, confirmed to CTV News that the victim was well-known gangster Amarpreet Samra.
Samra was previously named by the agency in a list of 11 individuals involved in gang conflict. CFSEU warned the public against interacting with the men as they “pose a significant risk to public safety.”
He was listed in the public warning in 2021 and again in 2022.
"It is highly likely a rival gangster will target them with violence," CFSEU Asst. Cmdr. Manny Mann said when the public was last warned in September 2022, adding the men listed are a risk to their friends and family as well as bystanders.
Kash Heed, a former police chief and BC Solicitor-General, told CTV News officers can do more to stop the gang rivals from harming one another.
“We know about the conflict with the red scorpions; we know about the conflict with the United Nations; we know about the conflicts with some of the South Asian gangs that are taking place right now. We need to intervene on those particular conflicts,” Heed said.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators is asked to call the Vancouver Police Homicide Unit at 604-717-2500.
FATAL STABBING
About three hours before the shooting, police were called to a stabbing on Bute and Davie streets Saturday night.
Several evidence markers lined the sidewalk and road in front of the BC Liquor Store.
VPD say it happened just before 10 p.m. The victim, a man who has not been identified, was taken to hospital where he later died.
Some West End residents told CTV News they were alarmed to stumble upon a crime scene in their neighbourhood.
“At 10:10 pm, I pass by here, saw so many police and you know, ambulance here,” Yuoko Ro recalled. “Every time we hear those news, it’s not comfortable and actually, you know, it's a scary.”
No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing, police say.
Anyone with information is asked to call VPD’s homicide unit.
Police tape is seen near Davie and Bute streets following a fatal stabbing on May 27, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Here's how much more Canadian landlords are asking for now, according to a just-released report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A man was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.