Rai Killed In Front Of Westside Vancouver Owned By Well Known Indo-Canadian Businessman!

Surrey realtor Kaminder "Kam" Rai is the latest to be killed in the escalation of gang violence recently. He died after being shot in front of a home owned by a well known Indo-Canadian businessman on Vancouver's west side, making it the city's sixth homicide of 2018. Interestingly, the home was previously owned by another controversial figure in the Indo-Canadian community, who was acquitted of the Air India bombings. "It’s concerning for police anytime we have a homicide, targeted or not," said Vancouver police spokesperson.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

With News Files                                          Photos and Video by Sukhwant Singh Dhillon

VANCOUVER – Another Indo-Canadian man is dead after a shooting in Vancouver's west side on Thursday afternoon.

Surrey realtor Kaminder "Kam" Rai, 32, is the latest to be killed in the escalation of gang violence recently.

 He died after being shot in front of a home owned by a well known Indo-Canadian businessman on Vancouver's west side, making it the city's sixth homicide of 2018.  Interestingly, the home was previously owned by another controversial figure in the Indo-Canadian community who was acquitted of the Air India bombings.

Vancouver police say this week's shooting of a man in Kerrisdale was targeted and his death brings the total number of homicides to six so far in 2018.

According to CBC News, the victim Rai was a realtor who posted on social media that he was from Surrey, B.C.

Rai was found injured just before 1 p.m. on February 15th died later in hospital later that evening.

VPD received a report of shots fired in the area of Marguerite Street and West 49th Avenue and officers located a man on the street suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition and died hours later.

"He was rushed to hospital in critical condition and died hours later," the Vancouver Police Department confirmed in an update late Thursday night.

Police said their investigation into the killing is still in its early stages, but that the shooting does not appear random.

The shooting, which marks Vancouver's sixth homicide of 2018, startled the quiet neighbourhood and triggered hold-and-secure protocols at two nearby schools.

So far, no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call the VDP or Crime Stoppers. 

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call investigators at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

While Vancouver's overall crime rate has dropped, the city's homicide rate has climbed steadily since 2012. News of the city's sixth homicide comes one day after police noted an overall reduction in the city's crime rate, reported CBC News.

The tally of six homicides so far in 2018 is the total number for the entire year of 2013.

"It's a matter of concern but I don't think it's a matter of panic," said Paul Brantingham, a Simon Fraser University professor of crime analysis.

He says B.C.'s homicide rate pales in comparison to those of American cities.

Vancouver police agree any killing is a concern, and say they are keeping a watch on this trend.

"These types of crimes tend to fluctuate during the year, but we agree it's concerning for police any time we have a homicide in Vancouver, targeted or not. The VPD is continuing to work with our partners … to solve homicides that have already been committed and to prevent future violent offences," Vancouver Police Const. Jason Doucette told CBC in an email.

Homicides in 2018

Jwada Hedar-Kadhim, 47 was found in a condo lobby in Burnaby on Jan. 2.  He was known to police and the crime was not considered random.

Alfred Wong, 15, a Coquitlam honour student and innocent bystander was killed in a gunfire exchange on Jan. 14 while driving with his parents near East Broadway and Ontario Streets in Vancouver.

Kevin Whiteside, 23, also shot and killed Jan 14. in what police believe was a targeted hit,

Sachdeep Singh Dhoot, 18, of Surrey B.C. was found dead in the trunk of a stolen vehicles near Fairmont Street and Vanness Ave on Jan. 18.

Martin James MacDonald, 51, of Coquitlam was found in medical distress on East Hastings and died after a few days in hospital on Feb. 10.

Kaminder Rai, a 32-year-old Surrey man, was found critically injured in Kerrisdale on Thursday and died in hospital. Police suspect it was a targeted hit.