Two Indo-Canadian men found murdered in Richmond have been identified as “known to the police”, who were involved in the criminal underworld

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said the victims are 23-year-old Kevin Allaraj, and 22-year-old Jeevan Saepan. Both were from the Lower Mainland and known to police. They had been aligned with the Brothers Keepers gang but switched over to associate with people in other Lower Mainland gangs. Police said initial information obtained indicates that this is a targeted incident connected to gang activities.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada 

 RICHMOND –Two Indo-Canadian men found murdered in Richmond have been identified as “known to the police”, who were involved in the criminal underworld

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said the victims are 23-year-old Kevin Allaraj, and 22-year-old Jeevan Saepan. Both were from the Lower Mainland and known to police. They had been aligned with the Brothers Keepers gang but switched over to associate with people in other Lower Mainland gangs, Postmedia reported.

Police said initial information obtained indicates that this is a targeted incident connected to gang activities.

On June 4, 2022, at around 11:03 a.m., the Richmond RCMP responded to reports of shots fired in the parkade at 7000-block of Ackroyd Road. When Frontline officers arrived, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, they died at the scene. According to sources, they were lured to the spot.

Saepan and Allaraj had been associates of Iqubal Grewal, who was just 23 when he was gunned down mid-block on East 64th Avenue between Knight and Inverness streets on Sept. 16, 2020. Like his friends, Grewal had been connected to the BK but switched allegiances to the United Nations gang.

At around 11:30 a.m., the Surrey RCMP responded to a vehicle fire in the area of 114 Street and 96A Avenue. Homicide detectives believe this fire is connected to the shootings. To advance the investigation and identify witnesses, the names of the victims are being released. 

IHIT is working in partnership with the Richmond RCMP, the Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Section (IFIS), and the BC Coroners Service. Homicide detectives are also consulting with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) for further information that could assist the investigation. The background activities and associations of both victims are being looked into, while homicide investigators are canvassing for witnesses and video.

IHIT is seeking dashcam footage, CCTV, or witnesses from the areas around both scenes. The scene in Richmond is specific to the 7000-block of Ackroyd Road between 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on June 4. The scene in Surrey is specific to the 11400-block of 96A Avenue, between 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on June 4.

 “This was a brazen shooting in a parkade during mid-day hours,” said Sergeant David Lee of IHIT, “it shows a disregard of greater public safety and that criminal activities cross city boundaries. IHIT is taking full advantage of the resources of the integrated teams and regional RCMP detachments.”

Allaraj had no criminal record in B.C. He claimed in a civil suit over a 2018 car accident that he was a construction worker. Saepan had been sentenced this past February to five months in jail and 18 months probation on a conviction of assault with a weapon and using an imitation firearm in connection with a three-city crime spree on Dec. 11, 2018.

At the time, police said Saepan robbed a Surrey driver of his vehicle, then caused a collision with a police cruiser in Burnaby and then later fired a gun at another vehicle in Coquitlam. He had also been convicted of theft and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and handed a conditional sentence.

Lee said that both men were found with gunshot wounds at the scene where they succumbed to their injuries.

And he said a burned suspect vehicle was found less than 30 minutes later in an alley off 114th Street and 96A Avenue in Surrey.

“Detectives believe this fire is connected to the shootings. To advance the investigation and identify witnesses, the names of the victims are being released,” Lee said. “Initial information obtained indicates that this is a targeted incident connected to gang activities.”

While the Lower Mainland gang conflict has seen gun violence between the BK, the UN and other mid-level groups, CFSEU’s Sgt. Brenda Winpenny said Tuesday that it’s too soon to ascribe a motive to the double murder, reported Postmedia.

“While the victims of this homicide are known to us, it’s too early to say with any confidence as to what happened here. We are working collaboratively with IHIT, assessing and monitoring and will continue to operate with the best intelligence available to us to assist in advancing this investigation.”

Anyone with information is being asked to call IHIT on the Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.