An 85-year-old man was killed by a stray bullet while in his apartment last month, according to B.C. authorities. Officers with the Burnaby RCMP were called for reports of shots fired around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 30, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said in a statement Tuesday. “The suspect vehicle fled the area prior to police arrival. Initial investigation did not locate any injured victims,” the statement from police said. Around 4 a.m., local Mounties were called to check the well-being of a man living in an apartment building roughly a block away from the location of the shots fired reports. “Police entered the apartment and located an 85-year-old man who had suffered a gunshot wound and was subsequently pronounced deceased,” the statement from IHIT said, going on to identify the victim as Chang Yong Cho. “Preliminary findings led investigators to believe the deceased was an innocent victim who was struck by a stray bullet from the earlier shots fired incident.” The homicide team said it has identified a group of young people who were involved in the shooting or who have information about it—and issued an appeal to the youths to come forward. “This is a heartbreaking and tragic loss of life. Mr. Cho was simply in his home when his life was suddenly taken, leaving behind a grieving family and loved ones,” IHIT spokesperson Sgt. Freda Fong wrote. “The Cho family deserves answers.” Investigators are also seeking witnesses and anyone with dashcam video from the area around 18th and Humphries avenues that was recorded between 12:30 and 2 a.m. on Aug. 30. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-877-551-4448 or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
