The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is requesting public assistance to advance its investigation into the homicide of 30-year-old Amrendra Vijay Kumar, who died from a hail of gunfire at a town home complex in the 13900-block of 72 Avenue. “We do not believe Mr. Kumar’s shooting was a random act and our detectives are working hard to determine motive,” says Corporal Frank Jang of IHIT.  “We need those who knew Mr. Kumar to come forward and help us piece together the circumstances leading up to his death.”

By R. Paul Dhillon – Founder-Editor DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – An Indo-Canadian care-home worker was gunned down Tuesday night at a Surrey townhouse complex.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is requesting public assistance to advance its investigation into the homicide of 30-year-old Amrendra Vijay Kumar.

On Tuesday night, at approximately 11:47 p.m., the Surrey RCMP received reports of shots fired at a town home complex in the 13900-block of 72 Avenue. Emergency responders arrived on scene to find Kumar with gunshot wounds.  He was pronounced dead at scene.  IHIT was called in to take conduct of the investigation.

Kumar worked at Hollyburn Family Services and staff there  told CTV News that he was a residential care worker for special needs kids.

“We are shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Amrendra Kumar, a casual employee at Hollyburn Family Services,” the company’s clinical director Chris Burt said in a statement.

“While we have no knowledge of the circumstances of his passing, we convey our condolences to his family.”

IHIT said they do not believe Kumar’s death was random, but that investigators are still looking into the motive. He was not known to police, the homicide team said.

IHIT is working closely with its partners from the Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services (IFIS) and the B.C. Coroners Service to gather evidence.

Immediately following the shooting, a vehicle left the scene at a high rate of speed.  Approximately 40-minutes later at 12:27 a.m., the Surrey RCMP received a call of a car fire in the area of 164 Street and 92 Avenue.  This vehicle is believed to be related to the earlier shooting and will be seized for further examination.

Investigators are asking the public for dash cam video for the following areas and time frame:

-140 Street between 72 Avenue and 88 Avenue from 11:45 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

-72 Avenue between King George Boulevard and 152 Street from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

“We do not believe Mr. Kumar’s shooting was a random act and our detectives are working hard to determine motive,” says Corporal Frank Jang of IHIT.  “We need those who knew Mr. Kumar to come forward and help us piece together the circumstances leading up to his death.”

Anyone who witnessed the shooting, or who has dashcam footage or video surveillance footage from the area late Tuesday, is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous, citing file number 2019-050485.

The shooting has residents of the area feeling on edge.

One neighbour told CTV News he was in bed when he heard what sounded like an automatic weapon. He estimates the sound of shots rang out for about 30 seconds.

“It was like a machine gun. It just went off,” he said. “My wife panicked. She went to the window. It was pretty bad.”

There were 38 shootings in Surrey in 2018, and 59 in 2017 with disproportionate number of them involving South Asian men, many of them found dead like Kumar. In 2016 there were 61 and in 2015 there were 88.

Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551- IHIT (4448), or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.