Ottawa: A 28-year-old Indian-origin man was shot dead in a suspected "targeted killing" in Canada's British Columbia province, according to the police, who have arrested and charged four people with first-degree murder in connection with the case.
Yuvraj Goyal was found dead by the police when they were responding to the call of a shooting in Surrey, the homicide unit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement.
Goyal worked at a car dealership in Surrey, Global News reported, quoting his sister, Charu Singla. She said the family had no idea why he was killed and that they had no indication that he had any ties to organised crime.
Goyal's brother-in-law, Bawandeep, said the victim was on the phone with his mother, who lives in India, just before he was shot. “He came back from his gym, (his) daily routine, stepped out of his car, and was shot,” Bawandeep said.
Police arrested four suspects - 23-year-old Manvir Basram of Surrey, 20-year-old Sahib Basra of Surrey, 23-year-old Harkirat Jhutty of Surrey, and 20-year-old Keilon Francois of Ontario - shortly after the shooting. They have been charged with first-degree murder, CBC News quoted the police as saying.
In a statement, the homicide unit said authorities were alerted to a vehicle fire shortly after the shooting. Police said that while initial evidence suggests it was a "targeted shooting, investigators are working to determine the reason that Goyal, a 28-year old community member with no history of police contact, was killed."
