A shooting that left one man dead in Mission on Wednesday night is a “targeted hit,” according to investigators.
Cpl. Frank Jang, spokesperson for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), spoke at a press conference in Mission on Thursday morning and asked for the public’s help with any information about the killing of 19-year-old Varinderpal Gill of Abbotsford.
Gill was shot to death in a vehicle in the crowded parking lot of the Junction Mall in Mission at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
A witness at the scene said he had heard four loud shots and saw a vehicle drive away quickly, before circling back to the scene. A gun was seen sticking out of the window and three more shots rang out, the witness said.
“This was a brazen shooting in a busy shopping complex and those responsible showed no regard for the safety of the community. It’s very fortunate that nobody was hurt, other than our victim,” Jang said.
One of the bullets fired smashed through the front window of the nearby Corona’s Mexican Restaurant. No injuries were reported.
“This has all the hallmarks of a targeted hit – a gangland hit – so we believe there were people who targeted Gill for death,” Jang said.
One person has been arrested in connection with the shooting, but no charges have been filed.
“We believe that person has information. We are questioning him right now,” Jang said.
He also said the discovery of a burned vehicle on Bateman Road in Abbotsford is connected to the shooting.
The vehicle – a Honda Pilot SUV – was located on Bateman between Latimer Street and Highway 11.
“We believe it is connected to this shooting,” Jang said.
Gill was known to police and, on Aug. 15, Abbotsford Police warned that Gill posed a “significant risk” to the public due to his connection to the Lower Mainland gang conflict and threats made by and against him.