SURREY, B.C. — A father, nurse and minor hockey coach has been identified as the victim of a fatal shooting Saturday afternoon in Surrey, B.C.
Paul Bennett, 47, was killed in what police believe was a targeted shooting, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said in a news release Sunday.
Surrey RCMP received numerous calls reporting the shooting at about 4 p.m., it said.
RCMP remain on scene of a fatal shooting. The Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association confirms Paul Bennett, a husband and father of 2 was killed. Neighbours say they believe it was a tragic case of mistaken identity. @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/Q4iDxnZnW2
— Breanna Karstens-Smith (@BreannaCTV) June 24, 2018
When officers arrived, they found a man with gunshot wounds who was taken to hospital, but died of his injuries.
"We are releasing Mr. Bennett's name in an effort to determine his activities and who he may have had contact with leading up to the shooting," IHIT spokesman Cpl. Frank Jang said in a statement.
#IHIT confirms the victim of homicide from yesterday's fatal shooting in #SurreyBC as 47-yr-old Paul Bennett. Mr. Bennett was shot in the 18200-block 67A Ave and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. #IHIT urges anyone w/ info to come forward immediately. 1-877-551-4448 pic.twitter.com/jqIudGD6Ys
— IHIT (@HomicideTeam) June 24, 2018
"We need those with information about this murder to come forward and speak with IHIT."
Marty Jones, president of the Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association, said he was shocked to learn of Bennett's death from mutual friends Saturday night.
Cloverdale Minor Hockey is a Family. We live life together. We journey, we celebrate, we rally and we grieve. Today is...
Posted by Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association on Sunday, 24 June 2018
Jones said Bennett, who was a father to two boys, worked as a nurse and had devoted much of the past few years investing in the lives of the young boys and girls at the hockey association.
"He was always well liked at everything he did, there was an easiness to him and he was fun to be around," Jones said.
"He's going to leave a large hole in our hearts."
Homicide investigators have said the shooting wasn't random, but neighbours have a hard time believing Bennett could have been the intended target.
Fraser Health has released a statement on the death of Peace Arch nurse Paul Bennett saying he was a “passionate advocate for patients” and that staff are “shocked.” We’re also told he worked in the OR, not the ER @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/LaQn6DdL7l
— Breanna Karstens-Smith (@BreannaCTV) June 24, 2018
