As victim of mistaken identity remembered, expert says similar events are rare
Criminals make mistakes about their targets, but it usually doesn't end in death
Upwards of a thousand people gathered on Friday to remember Paul Bennett, a 47-year-old father of two who was gunned down in broad daylight in a quiet residential suburb in Cloverdale on June 23.
On Thursday investigators said the targeted fatal shooting in Surrey, B.C., was a case of mistaken identity.
Bennett worked as a nurse and volunteered as a hockey coach. Among the rows of loved ones gathered at his celebration of life, hundreds wore hockey jerseys in tribute.
Bennett had no criminal record and police said he was not linked to any criminal activity.
Rare, but tragic
In 2008, a man in his mid-twenties was killed in Burnaby while installing a stereo in a car owned by one of the Bacon brothers.
In 2009, a young mother was shot dead while driving in Surrey with her four-year-old boy in the backseat.
In Abbotsford in 2015, a stray bullet intended for the next-door neighbour killed a 74-year-old man who was simply taking out the trash.
In January of this year a 15-year-old boy riding in the car with his parents on the way to dinner in Vancouver was shot and killed.
Wrong addresses, misidentified cars
Irwin Cohen, associate professor of criminology at the University of the Fraser Valley, said it's rare that cases of mistaken identity involve a homicide. More often, criminals and gang members have the wrong address for a house believed to have drugs, and end up targeting innocent people.
"Of course they can become frustrated when they think you're holding out on having the marijuana when you don't, and that can escalate the violence," he said.
Cohen said innocent people can be hurt if their cars are similar to the intended victim's, if they are the family or friends of those targeted, or if they're with that person when a crime is carried out.
In the past, Surrey has publicly listed the names and photos of known gang members to warn those close to them that being around them may put them in danger.
Cohen said not enough time has passed to determine whether there has been an increase in the number of cases of mistaken identity.
With files from Tanya Fletcher