Three men have been charged after an alleged extortion-related shooting in the Canadian city of Surrey, near Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada, as police warn of a sharp rise in similar crimes this year.
Surrey Police Service (SPS) said officers were patrolling the coastal Crescent Beach neighbourhood at about 3.50am on February 1 when they received reports of shots fired and a small fire outside a home near Crescent Road and 132 Street.
The suspects were arrested a short time later after getting into a rideshare vehicle near 28 Avenue and 140 Street. The investigation was taken over by SPS’s Major Crime Section.
Harjot Singh, 21, Taranveer Singh, 19, and Dayajeet Singh Billing, 21, have each been charged with one count of discharging a firearm into a place, a serious offence under Canada’s Criminal Code that carries lengthy prison terms.
Police said the accused are foreign nationals and that Canada Border Services Agency has been notified, a step that can have immigration consequences if convictions are recorded.
Investigators said further charges may still be laid as the case develops.
In a move rarely taken unless police believe it is necessary, SPS has released photographs of the three accused, saying it hopes the images will prompt witnesses, victims or associates to come forward with information about their movements before or on the morning of the shooting.
Surrey, a city of about 600,000 people in British Columbia, has seen a surge in extortion-linked violence, particularly targeting businesses. According to police, there have been 46 reported extortion cases in the city since the start of the year, including 11 incidents involving gunfire and one arson attack. More than half of the victims are repeat targets.
Community concern has grown, with residents holding rallies this week to call for stronger action against organised crime and intimidation.
All three men remain in custody until at least February 5, 2026 and the Surrey Police are urging anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact Surrey Police Service and quote file number 26-10642 (SP). A C$250,000 reward fund, established in September 2025, remains available for information that leads to charges and convictions in extortion-related cases.
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