Police are seeking new leads in the tragic death of an innocent Coquitlam youth who was shot while his family was driving in Vancouver a year ago.
Friday, the Vancouver Police Department released new details about the shooting, including the name of a man who is believed to have been involved in the shooting, a video of a pick up truck and a photo of a Red Pontiac Montana.
Kevin Whiteside, 23, and Alfred Wong, 15, were both shot and killed at East Broadway Avenue and Ontario Street near the Indochine Kitchen and Bar on Jan.13, 2018.
The information was released in a statement on the VPD website late Friday afternoon.
“This has been an active, complex investigation,” stated Sgt. Mike Heard, team commander for the VPD homicide detectives investigating the file. “We want to ensure we present the best possible case to Crown Counsel that leads to a successful conclusion.”
Investigators believe that victim Kevin Whiteside was in the area to allegedly kill 28-year-old Vancouver resident, Matthew Navas-Rivas, who was at the Indochine restaurant with a female companion. As the two left the restaurant, a second person opened fire.
The gunfire led to the deaths of Kevin Whiteside and Alfred Wong. Alfred was in a vehicle, with his family, driving through the area. Navas-Rivas was unharmed that night, however, he was murdered in an unrelated incident, months later, on July 15, 2018 in Vancouver.
Wong, meanwhile, was a Pinetree secondary student, who had planned on being an electronics engineer. He was struck by a stray bullet while he and his family were driving in Vancouver on their way home from dinner.
“This reckless violence really shook our community and we have zero tolerance for it in our city,” Sgt. Heard further added in the statement. “We have been in close contact with Alfred’s family over the past year and have been providing them with information and support.”
The shooting was believed to be related to ongoing gang violence, according to media reports.
Investigators have seized a red Pontiac Montana that was involved in the shooting. They have also located video of a dark pick-up truck turning into the crime scene at the time of the incident, and officers would like the occupants to contact them.
“I am pleased with the progress we have made to-date,” Heard noted. “We have released these new details today, because we know there are people with important information about these deaths who have chosen not to talk to our investigators. We are asking them to do the right thing and contact us now.”
Anyone who may have information about this incident, and who has not yet spoken with police, is asked to contact detectives at 604-717-0515 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477
