Surrey RCMP vow to use every means necessary to solve rash of shooting incidents

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A Langley man shot and dumped by the roadside is the third victim of six Surrey shooting incidents in two days.

The spate of gunplay has revived longstanding concerns about violence in the city, prompting Surrey RCMP to hold a news conference Thursday to assure the public they had "engaged the full weight of our detachment to try to resolve this matter."

Chief Superintendent Bill Fordy said investigators believe the first four of the incidents – all of which occurred on Tuesday – are connected, and linked to low-level drug crimes. A fifth, in which the Langley man was found shot near the Surrey-Langley line, and the sixth, in which shots were fired into a residence, are believed to be unrelated, he said. All were targeted; no one died.

"Any time we have a wanton disregard for public safety, it causes me concern as a police chief and as a citizen of Surrey who has kids going to school in Surrey," Chief Supt. Fordy said. "The fact that we have living victims doesn't distinguish it from fatal shootings. It causes all of us involved in public safety concern."

Police said the victims in the first four shooting incidents were Pardeep Singh, 20, and Indervir Johal, 21. They also released the names of 20-year-olds Pardip Brar, Amrit Kular and Sameh Mohammed, saying all were involved in the shootings and Mr. Mohammed was a rival of the other four. Chief Supt. Fordy added that the men have been primarily unco-operative with police.

"For those involved in these shootings, or people who know them," he said, "I ask you to think about the safety of your family, the safety of your friends and the general public. The manner that you have chosen to resolve this conflict is unacceptable and careless. For the citizens of Surrey, I offer you my commitment that we are doing everything we can to solve these shootings and bring a stop to the violence that is playing out on our streets."

Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner was away on city business and unavailable for comment, said Surrey city councillor Bruce Hayne.

Mr. Hayne called the spate of shootings "a tremendous concern" and said he had complete faith in the city's RCMP detachment.

Following a record-breaking 25 homicides in 2013, which included the high-profile beating death of 53-year-old mother Julie Paskall, the city has ramped up efforts to crack down on crime.

In December, Surrey City Council approved funding for an additional 100 police officers, expected to be hired this year, bringing the total to 803 officers. Provisions were also made to increase municipal support staff for RCMP.

Mr. Hayne called it "an unprecedented investment in policing in Surrey" and said he believed it was the single largest increase in the city's history. "We are doing everything that we can to stop this as quickly as possible," Mr. Hayne said.