Indian-origin man shot dead in Canada, four arrested in ‘targeted killing’

A 28-year-old Indian-origin man was shot dead in Canada’s Surrey in what investigators believe to be a targeted attack. The victim, Yuvraj Goyal, was found dead by police officers after reports of a shooting at his home on the morning of June 7. Four men were arrested in connection with the murder.

Yuvraj Goyal had emigrated from Ludhiana in Punjab in 2019 on a student visa. He worked as a sales executive at a car dealership in Surrey, in the province of British Columbia, reported Global News. He had recently obtained Canadian permanent resident status.

According to the Global News report, Goyal was on a phone call with his mother shortly before he was shot and killed outside his home.

“He came back from his gym, (his) daily routine, and he stepped out of his car and he was shot,” Goyal’s brother-in-law Bawandeap told Global News. “He just had a chat with his mom about a minute or 30 seconds before he was shot. He stepped out of his car, said goodnight to his mom back in India, then he was shot.”

The Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a statement that four suspects were identified and apprehended a short while later. The next day, on June 8, the four individuals were charged with first-degree murder in connection with Goyal’s death. They were identified as Manvir Basram (23), Sahib Basra (20), Harkirat Jhutty (23), all residents of Surrey, and Keilon Francois (20) from Ontario.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took charge of the investigation, and was working closely with the Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Service, and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC).

While initial evidence suggests a targeted shooting, investigators are working to determine the motive behind the attack. Goyal had no criminal record, the Surrey RCMP said.