Ten years after Jatinder “Michael” Sandhu was killed, his family is pleading for answers that could finally bring them closure. According to homicide investigators, Sandhu and another man were shot near 143A Street and 90A Avenue in Surrey on July 23, 2016. Sandhu, 28, died of his injuries in hospital, and the other victim survived. Police believe the shooting was gang-related, but that Sandhu and the other victim were not the intended targets. Authorities say neither man had a criminal record or links to gangs. On Thursday, the 10th anniversary of the killing, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team shared a video message from Sandhu’s mother and sister-in-law, where they describe him as loving, caring and always smiling. “It doesn’t make a difference to me, if it’s been 10 years or five years or one year. That pain, that heartbreak, never goes away. It’s always there,” his mother, Kal Sandhu, said. “For me it feels like it was just yesterday. I still remember my son calling me, getting that phone call, the panic. Running out of our house and devastation.” She shared how difficult birthdays, weddings and holidays have been without her son. “Little things and big things. It was my granddaughter’s fifth birthday this year…and she says to me, ‘How come (Michael) doesn’t come to my birthday?’ And I tried to explain to her that he’s in heaven and she’s like, ‘Well why can’t he come one time for my birthday?’ and I didn’t know what to say.” IHIT says it remains committed to the investigation and is urging anyone with information, even if it seems minor, to contact them. “We’re still seeking for justice. We have not given up hope,” Kal Sandhu said. “It’s been 10 years. You’ve got to come forward. Contact IHIT, tell them what you know or whoever did it, to come forward. Do the right thing.” IHIT can be reached at 1-877-551-4448 or ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
