The 38-year-old man who died after he was shot several times in the driveway of a house in an upscale Langley neighbourhood Monday night (Dec. 26) has been identified as Jeremy Olivier Bettan.
Bettan was attacked around 9 p.m. in the 9100 block of 207 Street in the Walnut Grove area of the Township.
Police arrived to find the casually dressed Bettan lying sprawled on the driveway in front of the garage of a newer two-storey house, one leg still inside the open drivers' side door of a dark mid-size M-class Mercedes-Benz luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV).
It appeared someone had shot through the drivers' side window at least eight times.
Paramedics declared Bettan dead at the scene.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took over the investigation.
As well, the Lower Mainland District Integrated Forensic Identification (LMDIFIS) and Police Dog Services (LMDPDS) were called in to process the scene, canvass the area and speak with neighbors and witnesses, said Sgt. Jennifer Pound, spokesperson for IHIT.
“As we are in the preliminary stages of this investigation the details are limited," Pound said.
"We are attempting to gather evidence with the intention of leading investigators to the person responsible for this homicide.”
Bettan lived in the house where the shooting happened, police said. He did not have a criminal record.
On Tuesday morning around 10:30 a.m., a tow truck removed the SUV from the crime scene with what appeared to be a yellow tarp covering the drivers' side window.
Around 11 a.m. a fire department crew arrived and used a high-pressure water hose to clean off the driveway of the house.
It was the second reported homicide in Langley this year.
In March, George Antone, an elder with the Kwantlen First Nations, was shot to death in his home on McMillan Island.
The officer in charge of IHIT, Supt. Dan Malo issued a statement Tuesday afternoon (Dec. 27) that the agency does not believe there is any connection between the Langley case and three other murders in Surrey since Christmas Eve.
"Each of the new investigations are still very preliminary, but investigators are confident that there are no links between the homicides," Malo said.
"These are very separate and tragic events that are only linked by the fact that they took place during this Holiday Season. IHIT will continue to work diligently to advance each individual investigation on behalf of the families who have suffered such terrible losses."
Anyone with information that can assist police is asked to contact the IHIT tipline by calling 1-877-551-IHIT(4448) or by email at ihittipline@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
If you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit their website at Solvecrime.ca