2 suspects charged in Whistler Village shooting that left 2 dead

Police saytwo men have been charged in connection witha shooting at the mountain resort of Whistler, B.C., on Sunday afternoonthat left two dead.

Gursimran Sahota, 24,andTanvir Khakh, 20,both from Surrey,have been charged with first-degree murder in relation to the shooting at the Sundial Hotel, police said Monday.

On Sunday, Seato Sky RCMPsaid officers were on patrol when a report came in just after noonof shots fired.

Police said they found one man dead and the other in distress.Efforts were made to save the man's life, but he was later declared dead in hospital.

In a statement Sunday night,Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT)Sgt.Timothy Pierottiidentified the victims asSatindera Gill and Meninder Dhaliwal, saying both were known to police.

"This is believed to have been a targeted shootingin relation to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict," hesaid.

In a news conference Monday, police said five suspects were arrested on Sunday, butonlytwo have been charged. The extent of the involvement of the otheris still beinginvestigated.

IHIThas taken over the investigation, with helpfromBritish Columbia's anti-gang agency, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, and others.

Burning vehicle associated with shooting

According to IHIT, investigators worked with the RCMP to locate the suspects' vehicle along Highway 99 shortly after the shootingand make arrests.

In an earlier statement, IHIT saidthat a burning vehicle discovered on Blueberry Drive in Whistler, about a five-minute drive from the hotel,was also believed to be associated with the shooting.

"This act was outrageous and a shock to the visitors and community of Whistler," said IHIT Sgt.David Lee.

"These results are thanks to the real-time information provided and the quick actions of the first responders."

Homicide investigators worked rapidly with Sea-to-Sky RCMP and collected crucial evidence with the assistance of the Integrated Forensic Identification Section (IFIS), quickly leading to the suspects being located and apprehended on the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

IHITsaid itisstill investigating to see if anyone else might have been involved and is asking anyone who was in the area, or any associates ofGill or Dhaliwal, to come forward andcontact its information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448).