Less than two weeks after a 68-year-old man was gunned down in front of his home in Abbotsford’s Townline neighbourhood, his family is speaking out.
They’ve organized a candlelight vigil, a march, and what they say is a ‘solution-oriented community forum’ with politicians from various parties.
Navi Sahsi is Darshan Sahsi’s son.
He tells 1130 NewsRadio he’s devastated that his father is gone.
“My dad got shot 10 times in front of my house, and he was the greatest person I know on this earth.”
He’s also angry.
“That was the last person on earth who should have had this. That was the worst way to go. He didn’t deserve that.”
Sahsi, who moved to Canada from India with his family in the early 1990s, says he’s frustrated with the level of crime and lack of public safety. He says he’s ready to move his family elsewhere.
“We don’t want to blame police for anything. We know the police’s hands are tied. I understand that. In this country, there’s way too much red tape and bureaucracy. I think the police should be given more power to do what they need to do to find these people.”
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He’s not providing specifics on how he would like to see laws changed to address violent crimes, but is pushing for something to change.
“We’re just one community. We don’t have any power. The politicians have the power. We can’t protect ourselves. What do you expect us to do? I can’t protect myself. I can’t protect my family. I just have to sit here and wait to get shot again? No, I’m not going to do that.”
Sahsi maintains his father’s death had nothing to do with blackmail or the ongoing string of extortions that have mainly targeted South Asian businesses and residents in Surrey.
“Nothing makes sense. There was no warning. There was no extortion. There was no change in his behaviour. He would have told somebody something. We’ve spoken to everyone close to him. I think it’s jealousy. Some people think it’s politics. We have no idea. Whenever someone had a problem, they’d come to him, and whenever he had a problem, he never let it go. He wouldn’t have just let this slide and just go to work without looking over his shoulder. He would have had people involved. We have friends, police, and the army all over the world. He had more than enough resources to have handled this thing if it was something like that.”
As of Nov. 3, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) tells 1130 NewsRadio there have been 81 extortion-related calls so far this year, and 42 were related to reports of shots fired.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is leading the investigation into Darshan Sahsi’s death. Outside confirming it was a targeted hit, and the suspect vehicle is believed to be a silver Toyota Corolla, IHIT has nothing else to say publicly right now.
“It is still very early on in the investigation. The investigators are actively following up on a number of leads and still in the evidence-gathering stage,” said Sgt. Freda Fong in an email to 1130 NewsRadio.
The victim led a company called Can Am Recycling based in Maple Ridge. Sahsi says his father also ran some hotels in the United States and was spearheading some local construction projects.
Saturday’s vigil begins at 3 p.m. at the Taj Park Convention Centre on 132 Street in Surrey.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the IHIT information tipline at 1.877.551.IHIT (4448) or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.