Three people charged in B.C. University Golf Club killing

B.C. officials say three people have been charged with first degree murder after a man was shot at a golf course near UBC earlier this week.

Three people have been charged with first degree murder after the death of 38-year-old Vishal Walia.

Walia was killed in the targeted shooting at the University Golf Club on the UBC Endowment Lands on Monday.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team identified the suspects as 18-year old Deandre Baptiste, 22-year-old Balraj Basra, and 21-year-old Iqbal Kang. All three were arrested on Oct. 17 and are currently in custody.

Officers were called to the golf course just before 10 a.m. Monday for reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they found Walia had been shot. He later died of his injuries.

RCMP investigate a shooting at UBC

IHIT responded to a shooting at the University Golf Club on Monday. (CityNews/Crystal Laderas)

Sgt. Timothy Pierotti with IHIT says about five minutes after receiving calls about the shooting, there was also a vehicle fire about four kilometers away at West 20 Ave. and Crown Street.

He adds that the fire is what helped officers catch the three suspects.

“The VPD members observed a vehicle that was departing [the scene of the fire] and they identified it as a suspect vehicle, and that’s what led them to pursue that vehicle, and apprehend the three individuals inside,” he said.

Pierotti says that the investigation spanned across multiple jurisdictions, with various police agencies working on the case.

“The message to the public should be clear. This was another brazen daytime shooting, which IHIT has worked diligently and effectively to bring to charges,” Pierotti said.

Although Pierotti says it has been a “busy time” with the amount of murders that have happened in the Lower Mainland, he notes that IHIT is staying on top of the situation.

“I’m always concerned when there’s homicides…But what I can say is the volume of files coming in hasn’t slowed down IHIT. We’ve been working diligently and tirelessly throughout the nights to bring justice not only to the victims, but their families, and the communities that are affected by these homicides,” he explained.

With files from Hana Mae Nassar 

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