Death a case of mistaken identity: Police

JEFF HODSON/METRO VANCOUVER

Vancouver Const. Lindsey Houghton at police headquarters in Vancouver yesterday.

Published: November 19, 2009 2:28 a.m.

Last modified: November 19, 2009 2:31 a.m.

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A man assassinated outside a local halfway house was in the wrong place at the wrong time, Vancouver police said yesterday.

Gangster Raj Soomel, 35, was shot and killed at about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 29 in the middle of Cambie Street at 19th Avenue.

The intended target, who police would not name, was also living at the halfway house at the time. He is now back in jail and has been warned that he was the intended target.

Const. Lindsey Houghton said it was fortunate that no one else was killed in the public shooting, given that it took place in a busy intersection, near a Starbucks.

“There were at least 60 to 70 people within yards of where Mr. Soomel was gunned down,” Houghton said. “I think it speaks to their blatant disregard for public safety.”

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