Vancouver/Lower Mainland Violent Deaths 2008

Recent Murder Headlines

   
   

VICTIM NOT IDENTIFIED

On Friday May 9, 2008 at approximately 10:00 PM several shots were fired at a vehicle travelling in the 7000 block of Kingsway in Burnaby.  The driver of the vehicle at 23-year-old Langley man was killed as a result of the shots fired. A 17 -year-old Surrey female was taken to a Metro Vancouver area hospital to be treated for non life threatening injuries.  Investigators do believe based on the evidence gathered so far that this was a targeted attack.   Police have very little information at this time as the crime scene has been the primary focus. The deceased victim is not known to police.   May 9, 2008   IHIT File #2008-3409  1 dead, 1 injured after shooting   Man gunned down   Another Lower Mainland shooting

   

VICTIM NOT IDENTIFIED

The 40-year-old gunned down in a targeted hit late Thursday on a quiet Abbotsford street was a member of the United Nations or UN gang.  The man, whose identity is being withheld by investigators, was gunned down on the front steps of the house he had shared with his wife and daughters for several months.  The man was apparently arriving home at 1432 Kipling St at 10:40 pm when he was shot on his front steps.  Witnesses described seeing a grey or silver SUV in the area at the time of the shooting. May 8, 2008   Victim was UN gang member      Man familiar to police shot dead

   

VICTIM NOT IDENTIFIED

Police are going through video surveillance following a shooting at a strip club.  It happened at the Cecil at Granville and Drake just after 10:30. One man was shot in the head and killed, and another man was shot in the leg.   It started as a fight between two groups inside the bar. The victim who died is described as a white man in his 20's.  

May 7, 2008   One dead after Cecil Hotel shootout   One dead in downtown shooting

   

WILHELMINE DRAGOSSY, ANETTA MEESTER & RITA PHILIPS

RCMP have identified all three of the women who died after a fire tore through a North Vancouver apartment building.  Ilse Wilhelmine Dragossy, 84, Anetta Meester, 80, and Rita Phillips, 78, were killed when fire engulfed the three-storey building.   RCMP File #2008-11240   May 6, 2008   Fire not arson    Victims identified   'Couldn't get out in time'   3 dead in fire   Boy alerts residents

   

RAJWINDER KAUR MANN & HARBIR SINGH MANN

At approximately 12:30 pm a woman and her children attended the home of her parents in the 12400 block of 71A Ave. in Surrey.  The woman came upon the elderly couple deceased in the residence & called Emergency Services.  Currently under the authority of a search warrant, IHIT is conducting a comprehensive scene survey and evaluation to determine whether or not this matter is indeed a homicide.  The victims have been identified as Rajwinder Kaur Mann, 62, and Harbir Singh Mann, 67.  File #2008-43480    April 18, 2008  Couple 'were very in love'   Police investigating suspicious death of couple

   

CHARLE DALDE

At approximately 10:10 pm Richmond RCMP were called to the 5500 block of Cooney Road after receiving a 911 call to the area regarding a fight in progress and a “man down”.  The male was taken to Richmond General Hospital where he later died from the injuries he sustained in the altercation.  The victim is Charle Dalde, 24, of Richmond.  Umut Ari was arrested in his home in Richmond and now faces a charge of second-degree murder.  IHIT File #2008-2759    April 14, 2008  Man charged in stabbing death   Killing not gang related

   

MICHAEL SCULLION

On Thursday April 10th in the early morning hours, Michael Scullion, 30, of Chilliwack, was in an altercation outside the Agassiz Crossroads Hotel located at 5936 Lougheed Highway near Agassiz, BC. He was with friends at the Hotel Pub and when they came outside to find him he was gone.  IHIT is assuming control of the Scullion missing person investigation after information learned by investigators suggests that he has been met with foul play.   IHIT File #2008 – 2777    April 10, 2008   Missing person case turned over to IHIT   Police suspect man met foul play

   

MICHAEL ANDREW GIBBON

A major disturbance at Agassiz’s mountain institution over the weekend resulted in the death of one inmate. At approximately 21:45 hours a number of inmates in the gymnasium of the institution started to break windows. The inmates were threatening towards staff members and later assaulted other inmates. One inmate succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the institution, while a second inmate was transported to an outside hospital as a result of the assault.  Deceased is inmate Michael Andrew Gibbon.  Inmate Gibbon, 39 years of age, was serving an indeterminate sentence for sexual offences.   File #IHIT 2008-02316    Mar. 29, 2008   Inmate killed in BC prison    Sex offender dies during disturbance at prison    Sex offender killed in B.C. prison riot

   

HENDRIKJE PRIESTER

On at approximately 0725 AM Abbotsford Police Department received a 911 call regarding a woman found dead in an apartment located in the 33300 block of Mayfair Avenue.  The scene was secured and an adult male that was on scene was arrested and taken into custody.  Charged with one count of second degree murder is 54-year-old Daniel Raymond Casgrain of Abbotsford.  The victim is 52-year-old Hendrikje Priester of Abbotsford. The victim and the accused lived together in a common-law relationship.  Investigators are calling this a domestic homicide.   File #IHIT 2008-2180   Mar. 25, 2008   Man charged with murder

   

ENRIQUE MANUEL ‘Rick’ MARQUES

An east Vancouver man was found dead in his apartment Monday morning in what police are calling a suspicious death.  Vancouver police Det. Rich Akin said the man was found by his mother in his first-floor apartment in a condo complex at the corner of Nanaimo and 30th Avenue, at about noon.   Police would not release the man's name but neighbours identified him as Rick, a "nice guy" who was disabled in a motorcycle accident as a teenager but always sought to be independent.  Mar. 24, 2008   Killed for his DVD player?   Police probe 'act of savages'   Man found dead    Death 'suspicious'

   

HANK HANS

RCMP in Surrey responded to a complaint at the Eagle Quest Golf Course in the 7900 block of 152nd St at 8:25 pm Mar. 19.  The victim,  Hark Hans, 28, of Surrey, a South Asian male was found in a white Honda at the parking lot of the golf course and pronounced dead at the scene.   File #Surrey 2008-32045   Mar. 19, 2008     Oppal calls for calm after shooting   27 slayings in 80 days   Fatal shooting at Surrey golf course   Fatal shooting   Shooting at golf course

   

JEFFREY GORDON CORNELL

At approximately 06:30 AM, members of the Ridge Meadows RCMP General Duties, attended a report of a man down in the Pitt Lake area.  A male body was located at scene and confirmed dead.  Ridge Meadows RCMP identified Jeffrey Gordon Cornell, 31, as the man whose body was found by two men at the side of 196C Street near McNeil Road.   File #Ridge Meadows RM08-5884    Mar. 14, 2008   Man shot to death had prior run-ins with RCMP   Dumped body found   A Suspicious death

   

PETER GAY JONG 'Smokie' CHAN

On March 13, 2008, a little prior to midnight, Burnaby RCMP responded to a disturbance call in the 7300 Block of 12th Avenue in Burnaby. Upon attendance an injured male was located. He was transported to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.  IHIT was called in and is conducting the investigation which is still in its early stages.   At this time we are still working on confirming the identity of the male. An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death.  File #IHIT 2008-1901    Mar. 13, 2008     Targeted victim identified   One man dead in Burnaby shooting   Police investigate Burnaby homicide

   

SILAS O'BRIEN

A trio of friends on their way to Vancouver International Airport for a flight to Hawaii had their vacation plans and one of their lives cut short after an apparent hit-and-run homicide.   Mid-morning of March 13, 2008 investigators located the suspect vehicle in connection to the fatal hit and run. Along with the vehicle a suspect was arrested   The suspect has not yet been charged with any offence and therefore cannot be identified.    The deceased male has been identified as 21-year-old Silas O’Brien of Langley BC.  File #IHIT 2008-1878   Mar. 13, 2008  Prime suspect in 'cowardly crime'   38 year old man, passenger arrested after deadly road rage hit and run   Suspect in had previous convictions   Road rage death   Man dead in fatal road rage

   

ALFRED 'Fred' WALCOTT

A wounded man bleeding profusely from gunshot wounds pounded on the door of a stranger before dying on the doorstep early yesterday on a quiet street in northeast Coquitlam.   The astonished resident quickly called 911. Paramedics arrived and tried to save the man's life, to no avail.   The victim was identified as Alfred "Fred" Walcott and he was known to police.  Mar. 12, 2008   Oppal calls for calm after shooting   Stranger bleeds to death on doorstep   Shooting death third in 5 days   Body of man found on quiet street

   

KYLE RICHARD WONG

Kyle Wong, 20, was getting out of his car in front of his home in the 8400 block of Aqua Street at about 8:30 pm, when he was shot and killed.  Investigators believe it was a targeted attack, as Wong was an associate of known gang members.  A small, light-coloured import sedan was seen leaving the scene.  VPD Homicide #7    Mar. 8, 2008   Hail of bullets cut down murder victim   20 year old shot and killed   Man shot

   

NHANT TRUONG ‘Joe’ TRAN

RCMP in Surrey and subsequently investigators from the IHIT attended a residence in the area of 90th Ave & 141a St on Friday, March 7th at approximately 11:45 pm after initial reports of shots fired.  Upon attendance, police located a Mercedes SUV parked in the driveway with a male slumped behind the steering wheel in the vehicle.  The lone victim was known to police and while at the initial stages of this investigation, investigators are of the belief that this is a targeted attack. The deceased is Nhant Truong "Joe," Tran, 23.   File #Surrey 2008-27102    Mar. 7, 2008     2 more gangland victims 'targeted, know to police'   Man shot in front of his house

   

VICTIM NOT IDENTIFIED

A 23-year-old Vancouver man has been charged with aggravated assault but could face manslaughter charges after his stepfather died following a fight at their apartment. His stepfather fell to the floor unconscious and was rushed to hospital where he was put on life support.  He died just after 5 pm Friday. The charge against the stepson could be upgraded to manslaughter depending on the result of an autopsy..  Mar. 7, 2008    Stepson charged with assault

   

ZDZISLAW (Jim) KUTYLA

At approximately 10:00 AM Burnaby RCMP received a call regarding a deceased male in a residence at the 8200 block of 19th Avenue.  Upon police arrival the death was determined to be suspicious.  After gathering crime scene evidence together with evidence from the autopsy the suspicious death reported on the weekend in Burnaby has now been classified as a homicide.   The deceased has been identified as 51-year-old Zdzislaw (Jim) Kutyla of Burnaby.  Investigators have not yet established whether this was a random or targeted act of violence.    File #IHIT 2008-1562   Mar. 1, 2008    Death ruled a homicide   Dead man's home vandalized in 2006

   

JUSTIN PETER VASEY

Homicide investigators sealed off several blocks of Surrey last night after a teenager was found dead at the side of a road.  Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team confirmed the homicide squad was on the scene at 104th Avenue between 140th and 144th streets.  Feb. 25, 2008   Police ask for public's help   Police investigating teen's death    Murdered student victim of bulling?   Man found dead outside party house   One teen dead, another badly hurt nearby   Teen's body found

   

KHANH PHO MACH

The investigation into the Guildford stabbing death of Khanh Pho Mach, 29, of Surrey that occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday has resulted in the approval of charges. Charged with second degree murder is Nga (Susan) Thi-Thanh Nguyen, 28, of Surrey. Nguyen and the victim were in a relationship together.  During the execution of a search warrant, homicide investigators discovered a marihuana grow-operation.. Although there was the discovery of a Grow-op this is not considered drug related.   File #IHIT 2008-1396   Feb. 24, 2008   Woman charged   Woman charged in boyfriend's death

   

PATRICK ANTHONY HAMILTON

Patrick Hamilton, 28, was found shot to death in the driveway of a home on the Katzie # 2 First Nations Reserve at 3:15 am Saturday.  Hamilton was discovered by a resident on the reserve who was woken by a barking family dog. The resident found a collapsed man on his driveway and called 911. Police believe the crime took place near where the victim was found. File #IHIT 2008-1376    Feb. 23, 2008  Stunned friends remember   Man killed on reserve   Barking dog, dead body in driveway   Murder probe in Langley shooting

   

EARL STEVE SEYMOUR

A man was shot dead in his minivan in downtown Vancouver in what police say appears to be a targeted hit. Matthew Ryan Wall, a 26 year old Vancouver resident, has been charged with first degree murder in the death of Earl Steve Seymour, 40.  Seymour was shot while sitting in a van in the 300 block of Carrall Street at 6:30 pm on Friday.  Both men are well known to police.  VPD Homicide #6  Feb. 15, 2008   Man charged in shooting death   Man charged with 1st degree murder   Police linked victim to cocaine ring   Man slain had lengthy record   Victim identified   Fatal shooting

   

KATARYNA SEMENOVA

At approximately 2:30pm, the Burnaby RCMP received a 911 call from the area of MacPherson Ave. and Marine Drive in Burnaby. It was confirmed that there was a deceased person in the ravine area.  At this time it can be confrimed that the body found yesterday in South Burnaby was that of a female.  An autopsy is scheduled for later today and at the conclusion of that more information may be available.  The female's identity has not been confirmed and no next of kin notifications have been done.  Vancouver Police will now be taking over the investigation, as it is believed that her murder took place in Vancouver.  VPD Homicides #5   File #Burnaby IHIT 2008-1098   Feb.12, 2008     Body identified   Body found in ravine identified   Dead woman had tried to flee domestic violence   Fears rise over missing woman's fate

   

CHI WAI ‘Darren’ LIAO

At approximately 11:15 pm North Vancouver RCMP received reports of what was thought to be either firecrackers or shots fired in the 600 block of Queens Road West in North Vancouver.  Upon arriving at the parking lot of the Delbrook Recreation Centre located in the 600 block of Queens Road West, patrol officers discovered a deceased Asian male. The male was located in the drivers seat of the vehicle he was in.  The victim has been identified as Chi Wai “Darren” Liso, 32, of Burnaby. Liao was known to police.  Investigators have learned that although Liao lived in Burnaby he was regularly involved in a floor hockey league that played in North Vancouver and had just finished playing a game of hockey prior to when the murder took place.    File #IHIT 2008-1034   Feb. 9, 2008    Charges stayed day before slaying   Victim targeted    Burnaby man gunned down   Victim identified   Man found shot in pickup   North Van shooting

   

PRITPAL SINGH VIRK

A man was found lying in the street last night in the 400 block of East 54th just after 11 pm.  He was rushed to hospital but died of gunshot wounds.  The victim has been identified as Pritpal Singh Virk, 19, of Richmond. Nine days before he was shot and left to die on an East Vancouver street, drug charges against Pritpal Singh Virk were stayed.  Virk, 19, faced charges of producing, possessing and trafficking of a controlled substance along with wilfully resisting arrest after an incident near Vanderhoof last May.  VPD Homicide #4   Feb. 2, 2008   Murdered teen had faced drug charges   Targeted hit   Victim was passenger in Nechako River drug car   Another Vancouver murder

   

JUSTIN AARON YUSKO

At approximately 7:45 pm Ridge Meadows RCMP received a call regarding a male stabbing victim found in a rural roadside ditch on Ford Road between McTavish and Bayne Roads in Maple Ridge.  The male was transported to local hospital where he later died.  The victim was identified as twenty-eight-year-old Justin Aaron Yusko of Port Coquitlam.   Homicide investigators have learned that YUSKO was a regular drug user. Based on information learned so far, investigators feel that this was not random act.  File #IHIT 2008-746   Jan. 29, 2008   Stabbed man dies of his wounds   Stabbed man dies in hospital

   

TEJVIR SINGH (Sunny) BAINS

On at approximately 9:00 PM Surrey RCMP received a report of “shots fired” in the 12500 block of 72 Avenue. Patrol officers were dispatched and upon arriving on scene officers entered a townhouse and discovered the deceased body of an East Indian male thought to be in his mid-twenties. The victim is Tejvir Singh Bains, 24, also known as Sunny Bains, of Surrey. It is believed, based on information learned so far that the victim and the suspect were known to each other.   Raminder Singh Bhandher, 30, of Surrey has been charged with one court of first degree murder on Feb. 23, 2008.   File #IHIT 2008-728       Jan.  28, 2008    Air India witness faces first-degree murder charge    Bhandher charged for Surrey murder   Thieves breach registry   Victim identified   Bus riders asked to provide clues   Man shot in Surrey townhouse

   

DEWARD PONTE

Police were called to Grays Park, located near Fraser Street and East 33rd Avenue in east Vancouver, shortly after 2 am on Sunday morning to investigate reports of rowdy teens.   Officers arrived in the area of the park as more calls were received about someone screaming behind a residence on the south side of the 1000-block of East 33rd.  Police hurried to the screams and discovered two young men, ages 15 and 19, that had been stabbed. Charged with second degree murder in connection with Ponte’s death is 19 year old Surrey resident Roseller Salvacion VPD Homicide #3    Jan. 27, 2008   Murder charge in stabbing   Surrey teen charged in murder   18-year-old charged with murder   Man charged in teen slaying   Teen came here for 'a better life'   Teen stabbed to death in park   Teen fatally stabbed in alley   Police make arrest

   

MICHAEL ALLEN SING

At approximately 12:30 PM today, a police officer on general patrols was flagged down by the driver of a Jeep Cherokee in the area of 152 Street and 104 Avenue. The driver was seeking assistance for another male who appeared to be suffering from gunshot/(s) wounds. Police cordoned off the area, and traffic was affected for approximately two hours at the busy intersection of 152 and 104. The 23-year-old male was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries. He is known to police.   File #Surrey 2008-8542    January 22, 2008   Victim known to cops   Man dies of gunshot wound   Fatal shooting in Surrey

 

 

JOHN DAVID PARKER

Coquitlam RCMP received a call from North Fraser Pre-Trial Centre regarding an assault that occurred in a cell at approximately 1030 PM Saturday night.  The victim was taken to Royal Columbian Hospital to be treated for his injuries.  Several hours later the victim, 57-year-old John David Parker of Vancouver died from injuries sustained in the altercation.   Victor Manuel Hurtado, 22, of Buena Ventura, Colombia, has been charged with the second-degree murder of John David Parker.   RCMP File #IHIT 2008-514   Jan. 19, 2008    Charges laid in jail killing

   

RICHARDO FRANCIS SCARPINO & GILLES ANDRE LEPAGE

A black Land Rover pulled up to the curb just south of Gotham's Steakhouse on the 600 block of Seymour Street in downtown Vancouver at around 10:15 pm Saturday night. Moments later, gunfire erupted and two men were dead. Scarpino, his fiancée and two other men were in the 2007 Land Rover on the way to his engagement party.  Two armed men, waiting for the group at the restaurant, walked up to the vehicle and shot the men inside.  After the shooting, the suspects fled on foot, and two guns have since been recovered.  VPD Homicides #1 & #2  Jan. 19, 2008   Drug chemicals found in slain man's unit   Second victim named   Slain man described as 'loving person'   Slain gangster lived the good life   Just wanted to turn his life around   Man slain week after release   Gang figure had Island ties   Men killed outside restaurant   Criminal resumé

   

RAJWINDER (Ravi) KAHLON

A little girl has been found slain in her North Delta home and her father has been arrested on suspicion of murder.  Neighbours identified the suspect as Lakhwinder Singh Kahlon and the dead girl as his daughter, Rajwinder (Ravi) Kahlon.  Jan. 18, 2008   Dad charged with killing daughter   Father charged after toddler found dead    Father under arrest   Father arrested

   

GURNAM SINGH JOHAL

Police are treating the mysterious death of a man at Surrey Memorial Hospital as a homicide.  Gurnam Singh Johal, 41, died last week. According to a source who spoke to Surrey radio station RED FM, arsenic was found in Johal's body.  The source said Johal had told hospital staff he wasn't trying to kill himself and hadn't ingested poison.  Man's death 'suspicious'

 

 

SUBALINI RATNANESAN

At approximately 11:30 PM Surrey RCMP were called to a home in the 15400 block of 91a. Once inside the home, police came upon a dramatic scene. One female appeared to be deceased and a second subject, a male was taken to an area hospital for treatment.  The home was subsequently secured and is now in the hands of Forensic Investigators. Police are now able to confirm the identity of the deceased as Subalini Ratnanesan, 50.   Her husband Sivapragasam Ratnanesan, 51, has been released from hospital and taken in to custody by IHIT investigators.  RCMP File #Surrey 2008-5990   Jan. 15, 2008   Death of 'super lady' shocks friends   Husband arrested after body found     Murder, attempted suicide

 

 

RUO YU CAO

A woman reported dead in her Richmond townhouse on New Year's Day was murdered, Richmond RCMP said yesterday.  Metro Vancouver's first homicide victim of 2008 was identified as Ruo Yu Cao. The 26-year-old, who used the first name Lucy, was found dead in the Cranberry Court complex at 8088 Spires Gate around midday Jan. 1.   Jan. 1, 2008  Woman was murdered    Woman identified 

   

Lower Mainland Violent Deaths 2007

Lower Mainland Violent Deaths 2006

Lower Mainland Violent Deaths 2005

Lower Mainland Violent Deaths 2004

Lower Mainland Violent Deaths 2003

Lower Mainland Violent Deaths 2002

Lower Mainland Violent Deaths 2001

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