Sardis/Langley – IHIT UPDATE APRIL 2 – Shooting at a Sardis cemetery leaves one dead and one injured.
Background: On April 1, 2023, at 6:54 p.m., the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment RCMP (UFVRD) were called to a cemetery in the 44000-block of Watson Road, after a report of a shooting. Members attended and located two adult males suffering from gun shot wounds. Sadly, one victim succumbed to his injuries on scene, while the second was transported to hospital. A suspect vehicle was observed fleeing the scene and shortly after, a similar vehicle was located on fire in the 6700-block of 224 Street in Langley. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has taken conduct of the investigation and is working closely in partnership with UFVRD, the Langley RCMP, BC Coroners Service and the Integrated Forensic Identification Section (IFIS).
Investigators have now identified the victims. Out of respect for their families, their names will not be released at this time. IHIT is working to confirm if the burned vehicle found in Langley is connected. This is believed to be a targeted incident and IHIT is working with its partners at the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) to determine the connection to the Lower Mainland Gang Conflict.
“Our members will be working with the Chilliwack RCMP over the next few days to canvass the area for witnesses and for CCTV,” says Sergeant Timothy Pierotti of IHIT. “We’re asking anyone with information about this incident to please contact IHIT immediately.”
IHIT is asking anyone with information to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Postmedia (Vancouver Sun and Province Crime Reporters Kim Bolan and David Carrigg) confirmed that the man killed is Sujjad Ali Jalal, who lost his teen brother to a gang shooting in Vancouver in December 2020. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the funeral expenses for Jalal.
ORIGINAL STORY – Just before sunset on Saturday April 1, there were reports of shots fired near the Vedder View Gardens Cemetery on Watson Road.
This was no late April Fools prank.
Black Press reported a heavy police presence with a helicopter overhead.
The cemetery is in a rural area.
On Sunday morning April 2, RCMP released a statement:
Chilliwack RCMP is currently on scene following a report of shots fired in the 44000-block of Watson Road, in the Sardis area of Chilliwack. At approximately 6:50 p.m., Chilliwack RCMP Frontline members arrived on scene and located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. A second adult was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. As a result, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has been called and is working closely with the Chilliwack RCMP Serious Crime Team.
The investigation is currently underway, in its early stages, and officers are canvassing for witnesses in the area. Investigators believe the shooting was targeted and related to the LMD Gang Conflict.
We’re asking anyone who was in the 44000-block of Watson Road with dashcam video between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. or who may have witnessed the shooting to contact the Chilliwack RCMP immediately,
says Corporal Martin Godard of the Upper Fraser Valley Region Detachment. At this time, we don’t believe there is any further risk to
the public.
If this shooting hold true, this appears to be the thidrd targeted shooting in the Chilliwack area in eight days.
