Corrections officer was shot dead in case of mistaken identity, police say

Police say an off-duty corrections officer who was gunned down in a Walmart parking lot in Delta, B.C., was killed in a case of mistaken identity.

The Delta Police Department says investigators believe Bikramdeep Randhawa was shot last May because his killers thought he was part of the Lower Mainland gang conflict.

Police say they are confident they have identified the suspects involved in the homicide. They have also reached out to the person believed to be the intended target of the shooting to let them know of the threat.

Deputy Chief Harj Sidhu says it's a tragedy to see an innocent person caught up in such senseless violence.

The victim's brother, Dupinder Randhawa, told CBC he's always believed his brother was killed in error, and it helped to hear police confirm that.

"I know he wasn't involved in anything bad," he said. "Today after hearing that it gives me more relief, because there's no more questions on his reputation."

Police say they are publicly relaying to Randhawa's family and B.C. Corrections Services that their investigation of the man's death is a priority.

The 29-year-old man was gunned down in his vehicle in the store parking lot in May 2021 in what police have said showed a "shocking" disregard for public safety.

On Tuesday, Randhawa's family attended a ceremony at Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, where he'd worked. In honour of Randhawa's memory, a bench, a plaque and a tree were placed where he used to eat his lunch.