It’s too early to say whether three violent killings South of the Fraser in the past five days – two in Surrey and one in Abbotsford – are connected, homicide investigators say.
Surrey’s first two homicides of the year happened on back-to-back days this week – Monday, Jan. 12 and Tuesday, Jan. 13 – following on the heels of a shooting death in Abbotsford on Friday, Jan. 9.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has now publicly identified all the victims, two of whom are believed to be associated with B.C.’s gang conflict.
On Friday, Jan. 9, Navpreet Dhaliwal, 28, was fatally shot in a home in the 3200-block of Siskin Drive in Abbotsford. Dhaliwal was one of two people named by Abbotsford Police in 2024 as a “significant public safety risk” due to his ties to the ongoing gang conflict.
On Monday, Jan. 12, Naseem Mohammed, 27, was found by Surrey firefighters while they were fighting an early-morning fire in a home in the 12700-block of 56 Avenue, in the Panorama Ridge neighbourhood of Surrey. Police say Mohammed was known to police and also believed to be associated with the B.C. gang conflict.
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, shortly after noon, Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers responded to calls of a man lying on the roadside in the 3500-block of 176 Street. Upon arrival, members located a man apparently suffering from gunshot wounds. Surrey Fire Services and BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) attended, and the man was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.
Shortly after 11 a.m. that same day, SPS officers responded to a report of a vehicle fire around the 18900 block of 40 Avenue, which is believed to be related.
IHIT has now identified the victim as 46-year-old Baljinder “Binder” Singh Garcha of Surrey.
“It remains very early on in this investigation,” said Cpl. Sukhi Dhesi, media relations officer for IHIT, in a press release. “Based on initial investigative steps, investigators do not believe there is a connection to the B.C. gang conflict and are working diligently to understand the circumstances that led to the death of Mr. Garcha. We are asking anyone with information to please come forward and speak with investigators.”
IHIT held a media availability on Wednesday, Jan. 14 to provide further information about the three killings.
Asked whether Garcha’s death could be connected to the ongoing extortion crisis in B.C.’s South Asian community, Dhesi said the homicide is in its very early stages and investigators are working “around the clock” to determine the motive.
Dhesi said Garcha was not known to police.
Investigators are looking for anyone with information, CCTV or dash camera footage from 18900 block of 40 Avenue, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., or from the 3500 block of 176 Street between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Jan. 13, to come forward.
Asked whether the three killings have any connection, Dhesi reiterated that all three investigations are “very early on” in the investigation stage.
“It’s hard to say if they’re connected or not at this stage,” she said.
Dhesi acknowledged the concern among residents with the three violent deaths so close together.
“We do understand that when we have three homicides in our community, it is a concern to the public, but I want to assure everybody in the public that our homicide investigative teams, as well as detectives and frontline officers from Surrey Police Service as well as the Abbotsford Police Department, are working around the clock to gather information,” she said. “This is why we urge the public and anybody that is out there that has information on any one of these homicides to contact IHIT investigators.”
Anyone with information on any of the homicides is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
“These are reckless murders that are occurring and we don’t want them to continue,” Dhesi said. “We will follow the evidence at IHIT and find those responsible that have committed these acts of violence.”