A body was discovered in rural Langley Wednesday morning, and IHIT confirmed at an afternoon press conference that this is a targeted killing.
The remains were found around 8 a.m. near Robertson Crescent, close to 244th Street.
Langley RCMP blocked off Robertson from 240th to 248th Street as well as several nearby rural side streets.
The closure was expected to last for some time, according to Cpl. Holly Largy, spokesperson for the Langley RCMP.
A large cluster of police vehicles was visible Wednesday near 244th, with several unmarked and specialized police vehicles attending the scene.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took over control of the investigation and announced it was believed linked to gang activity and linked to other recent gang slayings.
IHIT took the unusual step of publicly chastising a media outlet for posting photos of dismembered body parts. IHIT posted the criticism on its Twitter feed after local outlets used footage taken from a news helicopter, taken of the crime scene.
Local RCMP were expecting to hold a press conference later Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Burnaby RCMP announced they were looking into any possible connections between the Langley death and a non-fatal shooting in their area.
Just before 1 a.m., witnesses called the police about shots fired in the 6000 block of Broadway.
Police arrived to find a vehicle partially lodged in a house at Broadway and Fell Ave.
The 44-year-old victim in the car was apparently shot in a targeted incident. He is known to be affiliated with an organized crime group, said Sgt. Annie Linteau, spokesperson for the Burnaby RCMP.
Burnaby Mounties have been in touch with investigators from Langley RCMP, IHIT, and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.
If it is declared a homicide, this will be the second murder in Langley in a month.
RObert Keith Green, a 56-year-old senior member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, was killed on a rural property in North Langley on Oct. 16.
Jason Francis Wallace, a member of the 856 gang based in Aldergrove, has been arrested and charged with second degree murder.
- with files from the Vancouver Sun
For more from the Sun, click HERE
