Burnaby has recorded its second homicide of the year.
Police were called out to the 3900 block of Forest Street at sundown Monday evening after shots rang out on the residential street.
A man was found shot, and after being helped by bystanders in the area, he was taken to hospital where he died an hour later at 10:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) identified the man as Christopher Alexander Serrano, 29, of Coquitlam. IHIT said he also used the last name of Hurtado.
Investigators are now trying to figure out a motive for the shooting and what led the man with a criminal past to the area of Burnaby.
IHIT spokesperson Sgt. Jennifer Pound said investigators know that a dark-coloured sedan was in the area when there was an altercation with the victim.
She said the suspect vehicle fled, but not before colliding with a parked vehicle.
“At this point we’re trying to determine what the connection to that location is,” Pound told the NOW. “It was just an area where it looks like he met up with somebody in that dark-coloured sedan and an altercation ensued and he ended up succumbing to gunshot wounds.”
She said there’s always a concern and risk to the public when shots are fired in a busy residential neighbourhood, and investigators are hoping to speak to anyone with information.
Police also have evidence left behind from the suspect vehicle and video surveillance.
According to the Vancouver Sun, Hurtado was convicted of aggravated assault for slitting the throat of another man in downtown Vancouver in February 2010.
The newspaper also noted in September 2011, he was sentenced to two years on top of the 19 months he served in pre-trial custody.
This is the second murder of 2016 in Burnaby.
Burnaby Mounties were called out to an area around the 7300 block of Sandborne Avenue on April 3 around 8 p.m. when a resident heard shots ringing out.
After searching the area through the evening, police discovered the body of a man along the trail.
Police offered little details about the case and never identified the victim.
The man was later identified by the Vancouver Sun as Ray Jopowicz, 41.
