Full Breakdown
Senior Victim of Burnaby Stray Bullet
9/9/2026, 2:23:12 PM
Incident Overview
On August 30, 85-year-old Chang Yong Cho was found dead in his apartment in the 7400 block of Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia. Police say he was struck by a stray bullet fired during a “shots-fired” incident that occurred about a block away at the intersection of 18th Avenue and Humphries Avenue shortly after 1:30 a.m. The bullet entered Cho’s home while he was alone; he was discovered during a wellness check and later pronounced dead.
Investigation Progress
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) of Burnaby RCMP responded to the initial gunfire report, observed a suspect vehicle fleeing the scene, and found no injured victims at that time. More than 14 hours later, officers conducted a wellness check at the apartment complex and located Cho with a gunshot wound. IHIT officials have identified a group of youths from the Lower Mainland—one of whom resides in Burnaby—as possibly involved. Investigators describe the incident as “highly unusual” and state that a personal dispute among the teenagers, rather than gang or drug activity, appears to have motivated the shooting. Police are seeking dash-cam or security footage from the area between 12:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. on August 30 and have appealed to the youths and their parents to cooperate.
Official Statements & Responses
Sgt. Freda Fong of IHIT called the death “heartbreaking and tragic,” emphasizing that Cho was an innocent victim. She noted that the investigation is ongoing, the source of the firearm remains unknown, and the community must recognize the broader risk of stray gunfire. Cpl. Mike Kalanj described the case as “every first responder’s nightmare” and affirmed that investigators are doing everything possible to locate those responsible.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Every indication is he was a lovely individual and a great person in the community,” — Cpl. Mike Kalanj
- “They’re young individuals, maybe they somehow got access to guns, but we do believe someone will have the heart to do the right thing for the sake of Mr. Cho’s family and to give them some answers. Maybe it was a mistake,” — Fong. It
- “What’s important here is that this is a stark reminder that any time there is gun violence in our communities, someone innocent can be at risk. And this was someone’s grandpa, this was someone’s dad who leaves behind a grieving and loving family,” — Fong. Kalanj
