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Homicide investigators have identified a young man who was recently shot dead in a vehicle, which subsequently hit a power pole, in Surrey, B.C., as 18-year-old Gaurav Deol.
Deol was found in the area of 138 Street and 62 Avenue just before 12:30 a.m. PT on May 31. Police said he was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Tuesday, Sgt. Freda Fong with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said police were releasing Deol’s identity as they work to understand his lifestyle and activities leading up to the fatal shooting.
No suspects have been named, but police believe the attack is targeted.
Fong said police are working closely with Deol’s family.
“We have to remember that this is an 18-year-old very young man, and he leaves behind a grieving family. So despite the speculations, we would like to emphasize that the victim himself does not have a criminal record,” she said.
“But we did uncover that he had recent contacts with members associated to organized crime, that is something that we will have to explore as a motivation,” Fong added.
Surrey police say officers found a man suffering gunshot wounds in Surrey’s Newton area just after midnight Sunday morning. (Shane MacKichan)
The IHIT spokesperson confirmed that, shortly after Deol was found, a white Toyota SUV was found on fire nearby and it has been linked to the homicide.
Deol’s death marked Surrey’s 13th homicide of the year, according to the Surrey Police Service.