BURST
More than nine years after Surrey resident Michael Sandhu was shot to death in a Whalley driveway, homicide investigators are hoping someone with information about what happened will come forward.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team made the public appeal Thursday.
Sandhu, 28, was gunned down at about 10:20 p.m. on July 23, 2016, as he sat in a vehicle outside a house in the 14300-block of 90A Avenue. A second victim, who was driving, was wounded, but survived.
“While the evidence gathered to date indicates the shooting was linked to the B.C. gang conflict, investigators believe that these victims were not the intended targets. Neither Michael nor the surviving victim had criminal records,” Cpl. Sukhi Dhesi said in a statement. “Investigators continue to urge anyone with information about the homicide of Michael Sandhu to come forward and speak with investigators.”
At the time, police said the driver had a relative involved in the gang war and suggested the fatal shooting was likely a case of mistaken identity.
They also said a suspect was seen fleeing in a grey or silver Infiniti SUV.
There have been several similar cases over the last decade where people unconnected to the gang war have been wounded or killed by mistake.
Anyone with information about the fatal shooting is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-4448 or ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Dhesi also provided a statement from Sandhu’s family, which noted that he would have turned 37 this year.
“We have missed eight of his birthdays. Michael loved his birthdays. We still acknowledge this day with his favourite cake and letting off balloons at time of his birth,” the family said. “The emptiness that we feel will never fade. There may be people out there who may have information about that night, if so please help bring justice to our family.”
Dhesi said IHIT has added Sandhu’s case to its online unsolved cases page “to further generate public awareness and requests for information.”
Earlier this week, IHIT also issued an appeal for information about a red Dodge Charger believed to be linked to the gangland slaying last March of Jaskaran Singh Minhas in the 7900-block of 120th Street.
In that case, suspects have been identified, Dhesi said.
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