AI Generated Summary
- On March 28th, a 27-year-old Jasman Sekhon was gunned down in a brazen, targeted shooting in Surrey, British Columbia’s Sullivan Heights neighbourhood.
- 34–35 cases and at least eight shootings in January, prompting Mayor Brenda Locke to declare a local emergency and call for federal intervention.
- The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) identified Sekhon on March 31 and confirmed he had prior police contact and suspected involvement in the drug trade.
On March 28th, a 27-year-old Jasman Sekhon was gunned down in a brazen, targeted shooting in Surrey, British Columbia’s Sullivan Heights neighbourhood. Around 6:39 p.m., Surrey Police Service officers responded to gunfire in the 15100 block of 60th Avenue. Sekhon, of Punjab origin, was found suffering multiple gunshot wounds at a townhouse complex. Despite life-saving efforts, he died at the scene. Witnesses reported a dark SUV chasing him before two men stepped out and opened fire. A blue Hyundai SUV was later found burning nearby—a common signature in gang-related hits.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) identified Sekhon on March 31 and confirmed he had prior police contact and suspected involvement in the drug trade. Investigators described the attack as targeted and linked to organized crime.
Sekhon’s killing is the latest in a disturbing surge of violence plaguing Surrey’s large Punjabi-Canadian community. Extortion and gang-related shootings have skyrocketed since mid-2025, driven largely by transnational networks preying on successful South Asian business owners in construction, trucking, and real estate. In 2025 alone, Surrey recorded 132 extortion cases, 49 involving gunfire, and 88 victims. Early 2026 saw another spike: 34–35 cases and at least eight shootings in January, prompting Mayor Brenda Locke to declare a local emergency and call for federal intervention.
Though police report some decline in extortion shootings by March 2026, the pattern of drive-by attacks, arsons, and targeted killings continues. Sekhon’s death underscores how drug rivalries and organized crime have turned quiet suburban streets into danger zones. Community leaders warn that without stronger cross-border cooperation and tougher enforcement, such tragedies will keep claiming young lives in Canada’s Punjabi diaspora. IHIT continues to appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage.
