The case of Langley man charged with first-degree murder in connection with a July 2024 Vancouver shooting is moving to B.C. Supreme Court for trial, a provincial court heard April 8.
Vancouver Police Department officers were called to East 63rd Avenue and Inverness Street on July 26 over reports that two men had been shot in a vehicle, which then collided with two other vehicles.
Hitkaran Johal, 25, died at the scene. A second man was taken to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Rylee Andrew Shipley is currently charged with one count each of first-degree murder, recklessly discharging a firearm knowing it could harm another and aggravated assault.
He appeared before Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Nancy Adams on April 8.
Adams heard the move to B.C. Supreme Court is the result of the case now proceeding by direct indictment. In Canada, that means a case can bypass a preliminary inquiry and go directly to trial.
Adams was told the change means there would be a stay of proceedings at the provincial court level.
Shipley, who appeared by video, remains in custody.
He was arrested on Aug. 21 in Alberta with assistance from the Calgary Police Service and the Alberta RCMP, the VPD said.
Shipley was initially charged with one count each of first-degree murder, attempted murder with a firearm, and aggravated assault.
At the time of the incident, police said a vehicle was set on fire near East 63rd Avenue and Prince Edward Street shortly after the shooting.
The VPD have said they believe the car is connected to the homicide.
