The details of a gangland, highly public execution of a man at a Surrey Starbucks in 2019 has been revealed in a B.C. Supreme Court judge’s sentencing decision.
“The two offenders engaged in a public, cold-blooded execution of a man waiting in his car at a drive-thru Starbucks location on a sunny Friday morning. This murder is particularly vile and shocking in its callous disregard for human life,” Justice Michael Brundrett said as he sentenced the killers to life sentences without parole possibility for 20 years.
Brundrett said in his decision Suminder Singh Grewal, 43, was shot multiple times Aug. 2, 2019, by Calvin Junior Powery‑Hooker and Nathan James De Jong from both sides of his car in a drive-thru at Southpoint Exchange Mall as multiple bystanders watched.
“Mr. Powery-Hooker and Mr. De Jong were asked to kill Mr. Grewal and they agreed to do so. They were to be financially compensated for doing so by having debts cancelled,” Brundrett said in his September oral decision released online Oct. 15.
The pair were arrested after fleeing the scene and a high-speed police chase. Both have remained in custody since and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Grewal had placed his order and was waiting in line with cars in front and behind him. The pair had followed him from his home to the mall.
Powery-Hooker and De Jong, were wearing face coverings, all black clothing, and blue nitrile gloves ran up the vehicle’s sides.
Powery-Hooker was carrying an AR-15 rifle while De Jong toted a .40 calibre Springfield Armory Model XDM-40 semi-automatic pistol, both restricted firearms.
“Mr. Powery-Hooker and Mr. De Jong shot at Mr. Grewal a total of 12 times through the windows of Mr. Grewal's vehicle while Mr. Grewal was sitting in the driver's seat. Mr. Powery-Hooker and Mr. De Jong immediately fled the area,” Brundrett said.
“Mr. Powery-Hooker and Mr. De Jong discharged the firearms that killed Mr. Grewal in a very public place that was frequented by pedestrians and vehicles,” he said. “They discharged their firearms just feet from other members of the public, shooting the victim 12 times. Their actions endangered the lives of people nearby.
Multiple people attempted to help Grewal but he was declared dead by paramedics.
“A post-mortem examination of Mr. Grewal revealed multiple perforating and penetrating gunshot wounds to his torso and to his upper extremities, and two gunshot wounds to his lower extremities,” Brundrett said. “Four bullets were located in Mr. Grewal's torso and two in his lower extremities.”
Many civilians saw the shooting and it was captured on video by a dash cam.
Passing reference was made in court to Grewal being a biker but Brundrett would not speculate on how or why Grewal became a murder target.
