Surrey police investigating early morning extortion-related shooting

Surrey police are investigating after another home was targeted in an extortion-related shooting. Photo by SPS

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Surrey police are investigating after another home was targeted in an extortion-related shooting.

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According to police, the shooting was reported just before 1 a.m. on Wednesday at a home near King George Boulevard and 88 Avenue.

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Police arrived to find none of the occupants had been injured but did locate damage to the home and bullet casings on the street outside.

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Surrey Police’s dedicated extortion team has taken over the file and remained on scene Wednesday morning to investigate.

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“Although this incident is in the early stages of investigation, the motivation for the shooting is believed to be extortion,” said police in a statement.

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Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact investigators at 604-599-0502 and cite file number 26-38195 (SP). Those who wish to remain anonymous can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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Earlier this month, Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski said there had been a “meaningful decline” in extortion threats and related incidents in the first three months of the year.

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Extortion threats have dropped from 44 in January to 17 in February and 14 in March, he said in a video posted on X on Friday, while shots-fired incidents have gone from 10 in January to one in February and three in March.

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Extortion threats have been an continuing concern in recent years, particularly in the South Asian business community where businesses and homes have been targeted in shooting incidents.

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A number of task forces have been established at the municipal, provincial and federal level to probe the shootings and threats, while the city of Surrey has put up $250,000 for resources to fight extortion crime in the city.

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A dedicated tip line is also available at 236-485-5149 for those wanting to report extortions or who may have information that can assist in investigations.

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