A 37-year-old man was identified was the victim of Port Coquitlam's first known homicide of 2022.
Mehdi "Damien" Eslahian was shot and killed in the early hours of Thursday morning (June 30) along Davies Avenue and investigators say he was known to police.
The incident was targeted, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) in an update today (July 2) as the special B.C. police division continues to seek information from the public.
However, spokesperson Sgt. David Lee explains detectives do not believe it's related to any ongoing gang conflict or violence in the Lower Mainland.
"This was an area of low traffic and activity," he says.
"If anyone was travelling in this area and has dashcam footage, we ask that they contact IHIT."
Coquitlam RCMP were first called around 1 a.m. on Thursday after receiving calls of a shooting on 2700-block Davies Avenue — east of Westwood Street near its intersection with Fox Street.
IHIT took lead on the case after Mounties found Eslahian deceased at the scene and secured the area for evidence collection.
Lee says investigators are hoping to identify suspects and witnesses to the shooting by releasing Eslahian's name, who was a PoCo resident.
Officers are seeking witness statements, as well as dashcam or CCTV video of the incident in hopes of moving the investigation forward.
More specifically, police are asking for footage between 10 p.m. June 29 and 2 a.m. June 30 in the area around 2000-block Davies Avenue, and the intersection of Hastings Street and Lougheed Highway.
"A timeline of Mr. Eslahian’s movements is being constructed," reads IHIT's statement.
"IHIT investigators are looking to speak to Mr. Eslahian’s associates to determine is activities."
Homicide detectives are also working the case with Coquitlam RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Section (IFIS) and the BC Coroners Service.
Anyone with more information about the shooting, or video footage from the scene, is urged to call IHIT at 1-877-551-4448 or email [email protected].
