Punjabi man killed in daylight ‘targeted and brazen’ shooting in Canada’s Abbotsford

Navpreet Dhaliwal, known to police for alleged gang links, was shot dead inside an Abbotsford home in a brazen midday attack. (Express Photo)

A 28-year-old man known to police for his alleged links to the ongoing gang war in Canada’s British Columbia was shot dead in a midday attack at an Abbotsford residence on January 9, authorities said.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) identified the victim as Navpreet Dhaliwal, a resident of Abbotsford, on Sunday. The police were called to reports of shots fired in the 3200 Block of Siskin Drive at about 12.38 pm. Dhaliwal was found inside the home with gunshot wounds, and was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts by paramedics to revive him.

“This was a targeted and brazen shooting that took place in the middle of the day,” IHIT said in a statement.

Investigators confirmed the killing is linked to the wider British Columbia gang conflict, but stressed it is not connected to recent extortion-related violence directed at South Asian communities. The Abbotsford Police Department said the incident was isolated and posed no ongoing risk to the public.

Officers are conducting video canvassing in the area, but no arrests have been announced as of January 12. Investigators have appealed for witnesses and for anyone with CCTV or dash-cam footage from the area of Blue Jay Street and Siskin Drive between 11 am and 1 pm on January 9 to come forward.

Police said the Siskin Drive residence was known to them, having been listed as surety during Dhaliwal’s bail release in 2024.

Dhaliwal had a documented history with law enforcement, including alleged involvement in drug trafficking and violent crime. In late 2022, Abbotsford police launched an investigation into Dhaliwal and an associate, Anmol Sandhu, both of whom were identified by investigators as connected to the gang conflict.

Searches conducted in Abbotsford and Surrey led to the seizure of nearly six kilograms of fentanyl, two kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and morphine, along with firearms and large amounts of cash, police said.

The investigation later expanded into what was known as Project High Table. Investigators alleged that Dhaliwal and Sandhu were conspiring to commit murder. On February 21, 2024, both were arrested and charged with two counts each of conspiracy to commit murder, along with drug trafficking and firearms offences. A third accused, Gavinder Steven Siekham, was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the same case.

Dhaliwal and Sandhu were released on bail in mid-2024 under strict conditions, including house arrest, electronic monitoring, a ban on weapons and cell phones, restrictions on social media use, and multiple no-contact orders. They were required to live in West Abbotsford.

Citing what it described as a significant risk to public safety, Abbotsford police issued a rare public notification on August 1, 2024, informing residents of the release and urging them to report any suspected breaches of bail conditions.

IHIT, working with Abbotsford police and the BC Coroners Service, is continuing the investigation.