Well known Indo-Canadian gangster who’s had many previous brushes with the law was gunned down in the latest escalation of gangland killings related to the ongoing Vancouver gang conflict. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was deployed to Burnaby following an evening shooting and the victim has been identified as Dilraj Gill. Postmedia News reported that the murder is believed to be connected to, or was in retaliation for, the slaying of Navpreet Dhaliwal in west Abbotsford two weeks ago.

By PD Raj – Reporter DESIBUZZCanada

BURNABY – Well known Indo-Canadian gangster who’s had many previous brushes with the law was gunned down in the latest escalation of gangland killings related to the ongoing Vancouver gang conflict.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was deployed to Burnaby following an evening shooting and the victim has been identified as Dilraj Gill.

On January 22, just before 5:30 p.m., Burnaby RCMP frontline officers responded to reports of shots fired near the 3700 block of Canada Way. When police arrived on scene, they located a male victim. Despite life-saving efforts, the man did not survive.

Shortly after, officers located a vehicle on fire in the 5000 block of Buxton Street. Investigators worked to determine whether there may be any links to the shooting.

Based on initial investigative efforts, police believe the shooting may have been a targeted incident. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) deployed and assumed conduct of the investigation.

IHIT investigators believe that this was a targeted shooting and in order to advance the investigation, they identified the man killed as 28-year-old Dilraj Singh Gill of Vancouver. Gill was known to police, and the shooting appears to have a nexus to the BC Gang conflict.

Postmedia News reported that the murder is believed to be connected to, or was in retaliation for, the slaying of Navpreet Dhaliwal in west Abbotsford two weeks ago.

Dhaliwal, who was affiliated with the Brothers Keepers, was the subject of a public warning by police in August 2024. He was on bail pending trial for charges of conspiracy to commit murder, drug trafficking and firearms offences.

Gill was convicted of drug charges in 2021 stemming from an arrest on Jan. 17, 2018, in North Vancouver.

Gill, who was 20 at the time, was a passenger in a green minivan police pulled over after officers saw two people go in and out of the car on two separate instances in what they believed was a dial-a-dope operation.

Officers searched Gill and found a large roll of cash, a plastic bag containing more than nine grams of crack cocaine and three grams of a heroin-and-fentanyl mix, and two cellphones.

Investigators have confirmed that the vehicle located burning in the 5000 block of Buxton Street is connected to the homicide and police are actively working to collect more information about the vehicle.

 “Homicide investigators are working closely with the Burnaby RCMP, the Lower Mainland District Integrated Forensic Identification Service (IFIS) and the BC Coroners Service to collect evidence and advance the investigation,” says Sgt. Freda Fong of IHIT. “A shooting, especially in a public place is extremely troubling, not only for the police but for the entire community. Information from witnesses and those in the area will be crucial in ensuring this investigation advances and to hold those responsible, accountable.”

IHIT investigators are looking for witnesses or anyone with dashcam video or CCTV footage captured between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on January 22 in the following areas: Canada Way from Boundary Road to Willingdon Avenue and Buxton Street near Royal Oak Avenue and Forglen Drive.

Additionally, IHIT is looking for dashcam video from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM in the area of Canada Way and Laurel Street, between Boundary Road and Gilmore Way, Burnaby.

 Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.