The Surrey Police Service (SPS) has reported that a victim was critically injured and sent to the hospital after a shooting incident at a residence on Sunday, marking the first extortion-related injury of the year in the city amidst a surge in such crimes. The shooting occurred around 3 a.m. PT at a house located in the 13000 block of 103-A Avenue. According to Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton, a vehicle approached the home, shots were fired at the building, and then the vehicle swiftly fled the scene with its occupants.
Multiple individuals were present inside the targeted residence at the time of the shooting, as confirmed by Houghton. The victim, identified as a woman in her mid-20s, was struck by a bullet while she was asleep in the house. Immediate life-saving measures were administered by emergency responders before she was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The police later provided an update stating that her condition had stabilized.
Regarding the incident, Houghton mentioned, “I believe it is the first injury related to one of our extortion-related shots fired so far in 2025.” The SPS disclosed that there have been 56 documented extortion-related cases and 31 associated shootings in the city this year. Extortion attempts targeting individuals or businesses, particularly in South Asian communities, involve threatening demands for money through various means like letters, phone calls, texts, or social media.
Expressing concern over the rising violence, Houghton emphasized, “The level of violence is certainly unacceptable to us and should be unacceptable to everybody.” He added that efforts are ongoing to prevent further incidents and to identify the perpetrators. Surrey Chief Constable Norm Lipinski remarked that despite the unfortunate injury in the recent extortion case, the overall situation has shown signs of improvement following six months of police initiatives.
While no arrests or suspects have been announced in connection to the latest shooting, the SPS has unveiled charges against seven individuals in three separate cases last week. To aid law enforcement in resolving extortion crimes, Surrey has established an extortion tip line and a $250,000 fund to reward informants whose information leads to convictions. This reward fund is one of the largest in Canadian law enforcement history, aiming to encourage individuals to provide crucial information to authorities.
In a bid to combat the escalating extortion threats and shootings in British Columbia’s South Asian community, a new provincial task force has been established. Premier David Eby, addressing the issue, labeled the violence as “completely unacceptable” and assured that collaborative efforts with various authorities are underway to address the extortion cases effectively. Eby urged the public to continue sharing information and tips with law enforcement to help combat the alarming trend of extortion-related crimes.