SURREY, B.C. — Police in Surrey say they are concerned about the possibility of a revenge attack after a man known to have links to drugs was killed early Sunday in the most recent flare-up of violence.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire in Surrey early Sunday morning. They found a vehicle believed to be linked to a shooting had crashed into a nearby utility pole.
Arun Bains, 22, was taken to hospital where he later died from his injuries. He was the nephew of Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains.
Police said Bains had associations with people involved in the street-level drug-trade conflict.
“If you saw or heard something even if you think it is unimportant we want to hear from you,” Surrey RCMP Sgt. Dale Carr said Sunday.
"This murder is a tragic incident, one that we feared would happen in light of the recent string of shootings," said Sgt. Dale Carr of the Surrey RCMP in a news release.
"Our deep concern now is that there may a retaliation incident."
Homicide investigators are asking for help from the public to find out more about Bains' actions before his death.
Last week, police revealed that gang rivalry was to blame for a large portion of similar incidents that unleashed bullets into vehicles and homes in the region east of Vancouver.
Police said that 11 of the past 19 incidents at the time were connected to a turf war between two gangs.
Sunday's incident was the first fatal shooting.