A Surrey man faces a firearm charge after a mansion was shot twice. Police say the case pushes forward a major crackdown on B.C.’s growing extortion crisis.
A Rapid Arrest After a Second Shooting
A 21-year-old Surrey man, Avtar Singh, now faces a charge for unlawfully firing a gun during a late-evening shooting on Nov. 12. The gunfire hit a large rural home on 32 Avenue, and the attack came only days after the same mansion was struck on Nov. 8.
Because of this back-to-back violence, concern in the community rose fast. And soon after, Singh was arrested on Dec. 5. He stayed in custody as he waited for his next court date on Dec. 10.
Police Say the Case Pushes Momentum Forward
Even though the case moved fast, police say their work is far from done.
According to BC RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer, the BC Extortion Task Force has pushed hard to uncover evidence, build solid files and bring forward charges. Moreover, Brewer says the team will keep working with focus and drive, because every violent act linked to extortion threatens the safety of many.
Task Force Expands Its Search for Links
Since the shootings raised new alarms, investigators have been looking for deeper ties. And because many extortion cases cross groups and regions, the task force has teamed up with local, provincial and federal partners. Together, they share intelligence and move fast, yet they still keep each investigation on its own track.
Now, the team is checking if this Surrey shooting connects to any other open files.
Extortion Cases Spike Across Surrey
Surrey Police Service reports show how large the problem has grown. So far in 2025, the city has seen:
- 101 extortion-related files
- 44 extortion-related shootings
- 74 unique victims
Because these numbers keep rising, urgency continues to build.
Leaders Unite to Boost Safety
On Nov. 28, leaders from all three levels of government met in Surrey along with police agencies. Their goal: find stronger ways to respond to B.C.’s growing extortion crisis.
At the start of the summit, officials announced $1 million for victim-support programs. And in addition, the federal government pledged $4 million over four years to support a drug-and-gang team focused on trafficking south of the Fraser.
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