- January 25, 2026
Indian-Origin Man Shot Dead In Canada’s Burnaby, Police Probe Gang War Link
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In a statement, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team IHIT said investigators believe the incident was a targeted attack and appears to be connected to the wider BC gang war.
Victim Dilraj Singh Gill, 28 | Image: X
An Indian-origin man has been shot dead in the Canadian town of Burnaby, with investigators suspecting the killing is linked to the ongoing gang conflict in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland region.
Police have identified the victim as 28-year-old Dilraj Singh Gill, a Vancouver resident who was fatally shot on January 22.
In a statement, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said investigators believe the incident was a targeted attack and appears to be connected to the wider BC gang war.
According to IHIT, officers from the Burnaby detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to reports of gunfire in a public area.
When they arrived at the scene, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite attempts to save his life, he was pronounced dead. Gill’s identity was confirmed following the investigation.
Police also discovered a vehicle engulfed in flames near the shooting site and believe it was used in the crime. Investigators say setting fire to a getaway vehicle is a tactic commonly associated with organised gang violence in the province.
“A shooting, especially in a public place, is extremely troubling, not only for police but for the entire community,” IHIT spokesperson Sergeant Freda Fong said, urging witnesses and anyone with information to come forward to help advance the investigation and hold those responsible accountable.
Local media reports suggest Gill’s killing may be connected to the murder of another 28-year-old Indo-Canadian, Navpreet Dhaliwal, who was shot dead earlier this month in Abbotsford.
Dhaliwal was allegedly associated with the Brothers Keepers gang, which is believed to be a rival group to the UN gang, with which Gill was reportedly linked.
The Vancouver Sun reported that Gill had prior convictions, including drug-related charges in 2021 and several other offences dating back to 2016.
Dhaliwal also had a criminal history and was known to law enforcement. He was reportedly out on bail at the time of his death.
“This was a targeted and brazen shooting that took place in the middle of the day,” IHIT Corporal Esther Tupper said after Dhaliwal’s killing.
In late 2022, Abbotsford Police launched a major drug trafficking investigation focusing on Dhaliwal and another man, Anmol Sandhu, describing both as connected to the BC gang conflict and posing a significant public safety risk.
In February 2024, the two were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, drug trafficking and firearms-related offences.
Although they were later released on bail, police issued a public warning highlighting the risks they posed to the community.
Their bail conditions reportedly included electronic monitoring, house arrest, a ban on possessing weapons, restrictions on social media use and a prohibition on owning a mobile phone.
January 25, 2026, 09:41 IST
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