A 34-year-old man is the victim of a daytime shooting by a McDonald's in Burnaby Wednesday (Sept. 10).
Shahaib Abasi was shot around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday near Still Creek Drive and Still Creek Avenue in north Burnaby, police said during a news conference at B.C. RCMP 'E' Division headquarters in Surrey Thursday.
When officers arrived, they found the victim already dead. Photos from the scene show a white tent on a grassy area next to the McDonald's parking lot.
"From our initial reports from the witnesses that investigators have spoken to, we are aware that there were individuals in the area and that the victim, Mr. Abasi, was chased through the parking lot."
Integrated Homicide Investigation Team Cpl. Sukhi Dhesi said Abasi was known to police. She added initial information indicates that it was a targeted shooting linked to the B.C. gang conflict.
Dhesi said investigators are now working to building a timeline leading up to the death of Abasi.
About 15 minutes after the shooting, Burnaby RCMP was called for a vehicle fire near Nursery Street and Lakefield Drive in south Burnaby.
Police said the vehicle was is a white Mitsubishi RVR, and anyone who may have seen the vehicle in the times before or after the shooting is asked to contact police.
Police are now asking for witnesses or anyone with dash-cam video or CCTV in the area of Still Creek Avenue and Still Creek Drive, as well as Nursery Street and Lakefield Drive, between 3 and 6 p.m., on Sept. 10. People can contact the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email [email protected].
