Toronto: A 28-year-old Indian-origin sales executive was shot dead in Canada's British Columbia province in what investigators believe to be a targeted attack.
Yuvraj Goyal, who had emigrated from Punjab in 2019 on a student visa, was found dead by police officers after reports of a shooting at his Surrey home on the morning of June 7. Four men were arrested in connection with the murder.
Goyal, who had recently obtained Canadian permanent resident status, was on a phone call with his mother shortly before he was shot and killed outside his home, the Global News reported.
“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 the news outlet. “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, and then he was shot.”
The Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stated that four suspects were identified and apprehended a short while later. On June 8, Manvir Basram (23), Sahib Basra (20), Harkirat Jhutty (23), all residents of Surrey, and Keilon Francois (20) from Ontario, were charged with first-degree murder in connection with Goyal's death.
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.
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.
