Man shot dead in Surrey remembered as a father, friend, mentor
Posted June 25, 2018 6:28 am.
Last Updated June 25, 2018 8:26 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS 1130) – The community of Clayton Heights is remembering a local minor hockey coach who was gunned down outside his home over the weekend.
Marty Jones is president of the Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association. His son was coached by Paul Bennett.
“He gave a lot to our community. I look at Cloverdale Minor as a family. We grow together, we journey together, and now we grieve together… We’ll get through this,” says Jones.
Bennett was shot dead in the area of 182A Street and 67A Avenue on Saturday. The 47-year-old was gunned down outside his home. The RCMP is still looking for more information about the killing. They believe he was targeted, but have not identified any suspects.
Bennett is being remembered as a man who gave a lot of himself to young hockey players. Jones says Bennett was a coach who would work with any player, regardless of their skill set.
“He took anybody on his team and he would invest in them and develop their skill and try to sow into their passion for the game.”
In a Facebook post, Jones describes Bennett as a “beloved member of our family,” adding the association is “heartbroken” as it copes with the loss.
Bennett’s Facebook page identifies him as a registered nurse, originally from Ontario.
The motive for the shooting is unclear.
“I can tell you our victim was not known to police,” says Corporal Frank Jang with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. “But with that said, we are still looking into his background — any police interactions he may have had… we’re also trying to reach out to his friends and family that haven’t spoken with IHIT yet.”
“A father of two young boys, a nurse, a community worker, an ice hockey coach — this really hits home,” says Sukhi Sandhu, one of the organizers of the anti-violence group Wake Up Surrey.
“If it’s a case of mistaken identity, that even hits home more. It’s demoralizing. It’s really disturbing.”
Anyone with information about the killing is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448), or by email. You can also call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477.)
– With files from Martin MacMahon, Adam Cooper, and Sonia Aslam
