Mir Aali Hussain was known to police since the beginning of the millennium, but he had no known connection to gangs.
The 42-year-old man's death one year ago was from a shooting in Coquitlam's Maillardville neighbourhood, which B.C. investigators confirmed to be a targeted incident.
But since then, not much information has come to light to garner an arrest or charges of a suspect(s).
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says the case is still open, in part, because tips from the public or witnesses have been "limited."
"Not many have been received," spokesperson Sgt. David Lee explained in an interview with the Tri-City News, adding he could not give an exact number of tips or calls to the public hotline.
"We are still making progress though and anyone with information is encouraged to call IHIT even if they think the information they have is old or already reported."
On May 22, 2021, Coquitlam RCMP were called to a shooting near the corner of Henderson Avenue and Hart Street after receiving reports from several neighbours that claimed to have heard between three and six gunshots.
Hussain, identified as the victim three days later, was found dead of gunshot wounds beside his white 2020 Toyota Highlander in an alleyway adjacent to a home nearby around 5:30 p.m. that evening.
Police on scene immediately taped off the area to begin its investigation and placed a yellow tarp over his body.
Fast forward to today (May 22), Lee said Hussain's murder was not connected to Lower Mainland gang conflict, which had been rampant in the region at the time of the shooting.
However, Lee explained Hussain was also the target of a Vancouver shooting back in 2000 and had been seen with members of Middle Eastern organized crime groups.
The investigation is ongoing and officers are "identifying further avenues to pursue as well as suspects," Lee said.
When asked by the Tri-City News, IHIT said it could not comment on if a stolen vehicle was also linked to last year's shooting.
Police announced a stolen red 2002 Buick Century (see photo below) was believed to the suspect vehicle after it recovered in Aldergrove a day after Hussain's death.
Two people were found inside, according to an earlier IHIT release, and were seen driving the vehicle in the Maillardville near Henderson Avenue and Hart Street 20 minutes before the shooting took place.
Only one hubcap was on the sedan on the rear passenger wheel, investigators explained.
Attached to the vehicle were licence plates that are believed to have been stolen in Surrey on May 22.
According to B.C. online court services, Hussain was found guilty in September 2019 in facing a charge under the motor vehicle act for using an electronic device while driving.
The offence took place in Vancouver in March 2019.
Anyone with more information about this shooting, or any other related incidents, is encouraged to call their local police department or IHIT at 1-877-551-4448 or email [email protected].
If you wish to remain anonymous, you're asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go online to www.solvecrime.ca.
