A 28-year-old man was gunned down in broad daylight on a busy Burnaby street in what police are calling a targeted gang execution. The shooting has sent shockwaves through the community and raised fresh concerns about escalating gang violence in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland region.
The victim, identified as Dilraj Singh Gill of Vancouver, was shot multiple times near Canada Way on January 22, just before 5:30 p.m. Despite desperate life-saving efforts by first responders, he died at the scene. Police later discovered a burning vehicle nearby, a hallmark of organized gang crime designed to destroy evidence.
Who is Dilraj Singh Gill?
Dilraj Singh Gill was a 28-year-old Vancouver resident with a documented criminal history spanning nearly a decade. According to police records, Gill had been involved in drug-related offenses since 2016 and received a drug conviction in 2021.
“Mr. Gill was known to police, and the shooting appears to have a nexus to the BC Gang conflict,” said Sergeant Freda Fong of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Authorities believe Gill had connections to the UN gang, one of several organized crime groups operating in the region.
Why Was He Targeted?
Investigators suspect Gill’s murder is directly linked to ongoing territorial disputes between rival gangs in British Columbia. The killing appears to be retaliation connected to another recent gang murder in the area.
Earlier in January, 28-year-old Navpreet Dhaliwal was shot dead in Abbotsford. Dhaliwal reportedly had ties to the Brothers Keepers gang, a group believed to be rivals of the UN gang. Law enforcement sources suggest Gill’s execution may have been payback for Dhaliwal’s death, marking a dangerous escalation in the gang war.
“This was a targeted and brazen shooting that took place in the middle of the day,” said IHIT Corporal Esther Tupper.
Where Did It Happen?
The shooting occurred near the 3700 block of Canada Way in Burnaby, a busy commercial area. Burnaby RCMP officers responded to multiple reports of gunfire and arrived to find Gill with fatal gunshot wounds.
Shortly afterward, officers located a vehicle engulfed in flames in the 5000 block of Buxton Street. Investigators confirmed the burning vehicle was used during the crime and was intentionally set ablaze to destroy forensic evidence.
“A shooting, especially in a public place, is extremely troubling, not only for police but for the entire community,” Fong said, urging witnesses to come forward with any information or dashcam footage that could help identify the suspects.
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