Well-known Bhangra promoter identified as Surrey shooting victim

CBCNews has learned the identity of a man who was fatally shotin Surrey, B.C., on Monday morning.

Closefriends have confirmed Ranjeev"Raj"Sangha, 41, was killedin the 14600 block ofSouthviewDrive in the Panorama Ridge neighbourhood around 11:45 a.m.

But friends saydon't know why he was gunned down.

"It doesn't make sense for something like this to happen to a guy like Raj," said long-time friend GurpSian.

"He had a heart of gold, he was such a generous person. Very involved with the community. Always supporting the youth, whether it was through his events or reaching out in other ways, he was always pushing for community to come together and keeping youth out of trouble," he said.

Homicide investigators say Sangha had no ties to gangs and was not known to police.

RCMPsay hewas found suffering from gunshot wounds and died at the scene, despiteefforts to revive him.

The Integrated Homicide InvestigationTeam believesSanghawas targeted and are trying to establish a motive.

The shooter is believed to have left the area in ablackfour-door sedan that was later found burning in 12000-block of Cambie Road in Richmond, about 100 metres from a pedestrian path.

Police are askingpeople who may have seen the car to come forward. They are also seeking dashcamvideo from drivers who were travelling between Surrey and Richmond along Highway 99 or 91 between 11:46 a.m. and 12:49 p.m.

Sanghawas well-known in the city for promoting Bhangra, a popular, traditional Punjabi dance.

In 2011, he won a human rights complaint against the Sheraton Wall Centre after he said he'd been treated unfairly "simply because his organization wasinvolved with music and dance associated with persons whose ancestry was Punjabi."

Police say thearea around Monday'scrime scene will remain cordoned off for an undetermined amount of time while they investigate the shooting.

Anyone with informationis asked tocontactIHITat 1-877-551-4448 orihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.Those wishing to remain anonymous can phone Crime Stoppers.