Police are investigating after a 24-year-old Delta man was found dead in Surrey Thursday afternoon.
Just after 3:30 pm, the Surrey RCMP received a report of a deceased male found roadside in the 17800-block of 12th Avenue.
Police said the victim had injuries “consistent with homicide.”
Not long after the victim was discovered, police received reports of a vehicle on fire in the 18700-block of 28th Avenue.
Investigators believe this vehicle may be connected to the homicide and anyone with information about this vehicle is asked to contact the police.
Now, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has taken conduct of the investigation and is working closely with its partners from the Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services, and the BC Coroners Service to gather evidence.
Police identified the victim as as 24-year-old Amin Vinepal of Delta. IHIT said Vinepal’s name is being released in an effort to determine his activities and who he may have had contact with prior to his death.
Victm of homicide in #SurreyBC has been ID’ed as 24y/o Amin Vinepal of Delta. Mr. Vinepal was found dead in 17800-block 12 AVE yesterday after 3:30pm. He was known to police. Burnt car in 18700-block 28 AVE believed to be related to investigation. Anyone w/ info pls contact #IHIT pic.twitter.com/OyStucGH4U
— IHIT (@HomicideTeam) April 27, 2018
Police said Vinepal was known to them and was associated with gang activity. They believe his murder was targeted and linked to other gang violence in the Lower Mainland.
“There are people who have information about what happened to Mr. Vinepal,” said CPL. Frank Jang of IHIT. “I urge anyone with information to please come forward and speak with IHIT so that we can hold those responsible to account.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email.
Those who would like to leave an anonymous tip can do by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or online at solvecrime.ca.