The Surrey Police Service (SPS) reported that a victim was critically injured and hospitalized after gunshots were fired at a residence on Sunday, marking the first extortion-related injury in the city this year. The incident occurred shortly before 3 a.m. PT at a house on 103-A Avenue in the 13000 block. According to Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton, a vehicle pulled up to the house, fired shots at it, and then quickly drove away with its occupants. The home had several individuals inside when the shooting took place. The victim, a woman in her mid-20s, was hit by a bullet while asleep and received immediate life-saving treatment before being taken to the hospital in critical condition. Subsequently, her condition was updated to stable.
Houghton stated, “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 reported extortion-related incidents and 31 associated shootings in the city this year. The extortion cases primarily target individuals or businesses in predominantly South Asian communities through threatening demands via letters, phone calls, text messages, or social media.
Chief Const. Norm Lipinski of Surrey mentioned that while the recent extortion-related injury was unfortunate, ongoing police efforts have resulted in a decreasing trend in extortion incidents after six months of dedicated work. Despite the progress, no arrests or suspects have been announced in the latest case. The SPS unveiled a tip line for extortion-related information and established a $250,000 reward fund to encourage individuals to provide details leading to convictions in extortion cases.
Premier David Eby condemned the violence as “completely unacceptable” and emphasized the importance of community cooperation in sharing information with law enforcement to address the extortion-related challenges in places like Surrey. Eby highlighted the significance of doorbell camera footage, dash-cam recordings, and any relevant information in assisting authorities in resolving the issue.