The taxi passenger fatally shot in Surrey, British Columbia, earlier this week had a recent drug conviction, homicide investigators say.
David Chavez-Jara, a resident of the town where he died, was killed Tuesday afternoon in a shooting in the Guildford area.
He was a passenger in a taxi at the time and died on the spot. The taxi driver is in hospital with serious injuries.
In a statement about the shooting the next day, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team identified the deceased as Chavez-Jara.
It said the 30-year-old was “well known” to police and had recently been convicted of a drug charge – possession for the purpose of trafficking.
IHIT believes Chavez-Jara’s death was targeted. The team did not say whether it had uncovered any links to ongoing gang violence in the Lower Mainland.
No details were given about the taxi driver, other than that he was taken to hospital, but a statement from his employer said the man was in stable condition as of Wednesday.
Gurminder Singh, general manager of Newton Whalley Hi-Way Taxi Ltd., said he understands the interest in what happened, but that the company does not want to interfere with the police investigation.
He asked the public to “avoid any unwanted rumors or statements/comments that harm our company’s relationship with multiple organizations, may also affect the business, earnings of drivers.”
“Such daytime shootings of commercial vehicles are never acceptable as they pose a great risk to both our drivers and customers,” Singh wrote.
“We are looking at every aspect of driver and public safety and ask that everyone be patient as this investigation is (ongoing).”
He said the company was committed to providing customer service to the community and that he would have no further comment.
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