A man in Burnaby, B.C., is facing second-degree murder charges following a deadly shooting in a residential area in 2021. The incident occurred on Feb. 11, 2021, near the 6200-block of McKee Street, prompting a police response after reports of gunshots and cries for help were heard around 10 p.m. PT.
The victim, Neal Pratap, aged 44, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Investigators suspect that Pratap was meeting someone in the vicinity before the fatal attack. Liam Reilly, a 27-year-old resident of Vancouver, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the case, which marked the second fatal shooting in Burnaby within a nine-day period.
According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), Reilly is currently in custody. Sgt. Freda Fong stated, “This shooting occurred in what is typically a tranquil Burnaby neighborhood, leaving local residents shocked and unsettled by the tragic event.” Police noted that the shooting did not appear to be a random act of violence.
The incident occurred close to the location where another individual, Chris Kenworthy, aged 32, was discovered dead from gunshot wounds on Feb. 3, 2021. Despite the proximity and timing of the two homicides, authorities have not established a connection between the two cases.