Extortion-related shooting is fourth in B.C.'s Lower Mainland since last week

Police in Surrey, B.C., say another shooting linked to ongoing extortion violence happened overnight Thursday, marking at least the fourth such attack in the Lower Mainland since last week.

The latest shooting happened at about 12:50 a.m. in the 13400 block of 56 Avenue.

Police say arriving officers found a home and a vehicle had been damaged by gunshots, but no one was injured.

They say early indications suggest the attack is linked to "the ongoing series of extortions" targeting the South Asian community in the city, and the case has been taken over by serious crime investigators with the Surrey Police Service.

The shooting is the second extortion-related attack in as many days in Surrey, while police have also linked shootings in Langley and Delta last week to the same issue.

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke issued a statement Thursday saying the city is doing everything within its authority to end the wave of violence, including increasing the policing budget, requesting additional officers from the B.C. and federal governments and creating a $250,000 reward fund for information.

"Right now, people are scared and looking for answers about how they can feel safe in their communities again," Locke says, adding she would be meeting with B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger to work on additional, concrete measures to further support police tackling the problem.

"Our focus will be on identifying meaningful, effective actions that can be implemented quickly to restore public safety."

In another incident, Surrey businessman Baljinder Singh Garcha was found shot dead near a roadway around midday on Tuesday, in an apparent daylight killing that police have not linked to the wave of extortion.

There was also a series of extortion-related shootings in Surrey last month.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck