Edwin Shek-Yin Cheng shot dead in vehicle at Richmond Sikh temple

Edwin Shek-Yin Cheng shot dead in vehicle

at Richmond Sikh temple

Jun 06, 2015

 
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says the victim of a shooting at a Richmond temple Friday night appears to have been targeted.

But police could not immediately say why.

IHIT says Edwin Shek-Ying Cheng, 42, of Richmond was found shot dead in his vehicle in the parking lot of the Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple at 18691 Westminster Highway.

Police received reports of shots fired at the temple just before 9:30 p.m. PT.

IHIT Media Relations Officer Sgt. Stephanie Ashton says Cheng is known to them, but police aren't sure why he was in the parking lot.

RCMP carry out a grid search on Westminster Highway following a shooting Friday at a Sikh temple in Richmond. (Jeff Harrington/CBC)

​Ashton says police don't believe local residents or temple goers are at any further risk.

"At this time there appears to be no connection between the Sikh temple and the location of the murder. The temple is currently open 24 hours a day for Akhand Path [prayer]."

Temple vice president Tarlochan Singh Ranu agreed with police.

"The temple is not involved in any way," he said. "We feel bad ... what happened was bad."

Vehicle riddled with bullets

One worshipper said there were many people in the temple when the shooting occurred.

"One guy was parked in the parking lot and another car came, a black SUV, and they start shooting him and they left right away," said the man, who did not give his name.

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He said there were as many as 20 shots and the car was surrounded by shells afterward.

Other members said the area was very safe with nothing like the shooting ever occurring in the past 30 years. They said they were shaken to find most of the parking lot behind police tape when they arrived Saturday morning.

Following the shooting, Richmond RCMP were allowing people to come and go from a section of the parking lot. Police were working with temple volunteers to check identification cards and record names of those entering and exiting the temple. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact IHIT, by calling the tipline at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihittipline@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Those wishing to remain anonymous may send tips to CrimeStoppers online or contact them by phone at 1-800-222-8477.

MAP: Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple