Nineteen-year-old Varinderpal Gill, aka VP, was killed in a shooting outside a Mission, B.C. movie theatre Wednesday night. Gill was alleged to have gang ties and was on the targeted list of young gangsters, forcing an unusual police warning over the summer to steer clear of Gill cause he was on a hit list. In August, the Abbotsford Police Department issued a warning that Gill posed "a significant risk to the public" because of his involvement in gang conflicts in the Lower Mainland.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files

SURREY – A targeted young Indo-Canadian was shot dead outside a Mission, BC movie theatre in a shoot-out scene right out of a gangster movie

Nineteen-year-old Varinderpal Gill was killed in a shooting outside a Mission, B.C. movie theatre Wednesday night.

Gill was alleged to have gang ties and was on the targeted list of young gangsters, forcing an unusual police warning over the summer to steer clear of Gill cause he was on a hit list.

On Thursday morning, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team identified the deceased as Varinderpal Gill, who often went by the nickname "VP."

Officers found his body after responding to reports of shots fired in the parking lot of Mission Junction Mall at around 9 p.m., while a number of businesses were still open, including Tim Hortons, London Drugs and Silvercity Mission Cinemas.

"This was a brazen shooting in a busy shopping complex and those responsible showed no regard for the safety of the community," Cpl. Frank Jang told reporters. "It's very fotunate that nobody was hurt other than our victim."

Gill's murder, which police believe was targeted, took place about a half hour before the multiplex theatre's last scheduled show time of the night, reported CTV News.

Authorities cordoned off the parking lot with police tape overnight, and a pickup truck could be seen with bullet holes in the driver's-side window.

In August, the Abbotsford Police Department issued a warning that Gill posed "a significant risk to the public" because of his involvement in gang conflicts in the Lower Mainland.

"Because many gang shootings occur in public places, this means Varinderpal Gill’s presence in public places creates a serious risk to public safety as well," the department said at the time.

About four hours after Wednesday's shooting, a burning SUV was reported to Abbotsford police in Bateman Park. Though it's early in their investigation, authorities believe the vehicle is connected to Gill's murder.

Anyone with information on the killing is asked to call IHIT at 1-877-551-4448, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.