SURREY, B.C. -- One man has died and another has been injured after a Sunday night shooting in a residential area of north Surrey.
Surrey RCMP were called to 114 Avenue near 136A Street in Bolivar Heights around 11 p.m. after receiving reports of shots fired.
“When they arrived on scene they found one man who was dead and a second man who was taken to hospital,” said Sgt. Frank Jang of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
Investigators said Monday both victims were in their early 20s and were known to police. Neither has been publicly identified in what police described as a targeted incident.
The shooting appears to have happened not far from a playground and some green space near Bolivar Park, right across from several homes.
One neighbour who only wanted to be identified by his first name, Gord, told CTV News he heard multiple shots.
“A bunch of rapid gunfire, I estimate six to eight shots within just a few seconds,” he said. “I saw them performing CPR on the victim just down by the tent there.”
A forensics unit was in the area Monday morning, marking and gathering evidence underneath a white police tent.
A newer-model white BMW parked not far from the tent appears to have two bullet holes near the drivers’ side door.
Another neighbour, who lives just metres away from the crime scene, said he also heard the gunfire Sunday night, soon followed by the sounds of police vehicles and ambulances.
"I'm kind of scared," said Govind, who only wanted to provide his first name. "If there were kids or children playing they could be a victim of that."
Several neighbours have commented that there have been problems in the park in the past, including drug activity.
Robyn Jean has lived in the neighbourhood for 15 years. She says she’s noticed a spike in crime recently.
“It does make me fearful for my children and that is a park. That is a park where children play! There’s little kids, it’s just not right,” said the mom as she waited at the bus stop with her young family.
Jean believes Surrey doesn’t have as many boots on the ground as it should.
“There’s not enough police in Surrey. I don’t blame them at all, they do the best they can.”
She says this latest incident hits too close to home.
“It’s not safe, and what’s that telling us? It’s telling us we better pull up our socks and figure out why and what the judicial system is doing wrong.”
Police say the man who sustained injuries was taken to hospital in serious condition.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is also looking into a burned vehicle that was found in Burnaby at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Sgt. Jang says it’s too soon to tell if that incident is linked to the shooting.
Police say there are no suspects in custody at this time.