Six found dead in B.C. likely targeted

SURREY, B.C. – The slayings of six men in a condominium in this Vancouver suburb do not appear to be random, police said Saturday.

Police told residents of the 15-story building to lock their doors and refuse visitors. But they also tried to calm nearby residents’ concerns.

“It looks like … the people may have been targeted, or they knew who their attackers were,” said Cpl. Dale Carr of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “I just want to try and … assure people that that’s kind of what we’re looking at.”

Carr told reporters Saturday that the person who found the bodies called in a gas leak Friday because he believed the people had been overcome. However, when a hazardous materials crew arrived, they called police, who knew immediately it was a crime scene.

“You can only imagine that it’s a bit of a grisly scene,” Carr said. “Our officers have been in and are going through the crime scene very methodically.”

Carr said investigators were looking at many scenarios, including murder-suicide, a domestic dispute, or that the killings may be gang related.

Carr called the crime scene “very complex” and said police could be investigating for several days.

“I can confirm there’s certainly blood in the scene, how graphic it is I’m just not prepared to go into at this time,” Carr told reporters outside the building.

The ongoing investigation means residents of the 10 living units on the top floor – where the bodies were found – have had to find other places to stay.

Police said they were still identifying the victims.