BURNABY, B.C. – Homicide investigators are appealing for witnesses after an 85-year-old Burnaby man was fatally shot inside his home in what police believe was a tragic case of an innocent person being struck by a stray bullet.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has identified the victim as Chang Yong Cho.
Burnaby RCMP were called to reports of shots fired near 18th Avenue and Humphries Avenue shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 30. A suspect vehicle had left before officers arrived, and the initial investigation did not locate anyone who had been injured.
Several hours later, at approximately 4 p.m., police were asked to conduct a wellness check at an apartment complex in the 7400-block of Kingsway, about one block from the location of the earlier shooting.
Officers entered the apartment and found Cho suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead.
IHIT says preliminary findings indicate Cho was an innocent victim struck by a stray bullet connected to the earlier shots-fired incident.
“This is a heartbreaking and tragic loss of life,” Sgt. Freda Fong of IHIT said, adding that Cho had simply been inside his home when he was killed.
Investigators say they have identified a group of youths believed to be involved or to have knowledge of the shooting and are working to establish the role of everyone involved.
Police are urging those youths to speak with investigators and are asking their parents to encourage them to come forward.
IHIT is also seeking witnesses and anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage from the area of 18th Avenue and Humphries Avenue between 12:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Aug. 30.
Anyone with information can contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Source: Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT)
IHIT File: 2026-886
