News release
Ten-year anniversary of the homicide of Michael Sandhu
July 23, 2026
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Surrey, British Columbia
From: IHIT
On this page
Content
IHIT File # 2016-1355
On the tenth anniversary of the homicide of Michael Sandhu, his family has chosen to share a personal video message, reflecting on the lasting impact of his loss for their family.
Transcript
Video description:
Two women sitting on a park bench. Woman on the left is wearing a black t-shirt and woman on the right is wearing a white t-shirt.
Transcription:
Michael was very loving and caring. He would always be smiling. He had a dog, ‘Gucci’, who we lost last year, as well.
[Man wearing white t-shirt. He is holding a small brown dog with a black collar.]
He was just such a great person overall. Very honest, very caring.
So much has been taken from him and from us. We’ve lost all this time being with him. If Michael was here he would have been married, he would have had kids, he wanted to change careers. We don’t even know where he would have gone with that as well. You know, we’ve lost our so much.
It doesn’t make a difference to me, if it’s been ten years or five years or one year. That pain, that heartbreak, never goes away. It’s always there.
For me it feels like it was just yesterday. I still remember my son calling me, getting that phone call, the panic. Running out of our house and devastation.
Birthdays have been so hard, weddings, holidays. All the grandkids that have been born since that time frame. That’s been hard. Little things and big things. It was my granddaughter’s 5th birthday this year and she came up to me and she, she calls me ‘Bibi’, and she calls Michael Taya Ji, and she says to me, “How come Taya Ji doesn’t come to my birthday?” And I tried to explain to her that he’s in Heaven and she’s like “Well why can’t he come one time for my birthday?” And I didn’t know what to say.
We’re still seeking for justice. We have not given up hope. If anybody has anything, we would ask that they contact IHIT and tell them whatever information that they have. It may not seem to you that whatever you know is not important but let IHIT make that decision, whether it is important or not, but contact them.
It’s been ten years. You’ve got to come forward. Contact IHIT, tell them what you know or whoever did it, to come forward. Do the right thing.
Dedicated to our beloved son, Jatinder Michael Sandhu. Love family and friends.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) remains committed to advancing the investigation and continues to encourage anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to contact investigators.
“The anniversary of losing a loved one can be especially challenging, particularly for those lost to violence,” says Sgt. Freda Fong of IHIT. “We are grateful to Michael’s family for sharing their message and helping keep attention on this investigation. Someone may hold information that could make a difference.”
“Investigators do no believe Michael or the other victim had any links to gangs or criminal activity,” continues Sgt. Fong. “Evidence to date suggests they may have not been the intended targets of the shooting.”
Background:
On July 23, 2016, the Surrey RCMP responded to a shooting in the area of 14300 block of 90A Avenue. First responders found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim sustained survivable injuries. The other victim was 28-year-old Jatinder “Michael” Sandhu, who was transported to hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Contacts
Media Relations Officer
Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT)
ediv_ihit_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
236-334-3081