Sons of 85-year-old Chang Yong Cho appeal to those involved in the Aug. 30 shooting to turn themselves in
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The grieving family of an 85-year-old Burnaby senior killed by a stray bullet say they’re devastated and “shattered” by his senseless death.
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Chang Yong Cho was killed after gunfire erupted near his Burnaby apartment in the early morning hours of Aug. 30.
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His sons are appealing to anyone with information about the shooting to “do the right thing” and come forward to police.
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“Our father was a man of deep Christian faith, gentle spirit and unwavering kindness,” said Justin and David Cho in a statement shared by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team on Wednesday. “To lose him in such a shocking way has shattered our hearts.”
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Cho was born in Korea in 1940 and built a life in Canada. After his wife of 40 years died in 2012 from Parkinson’s disease, Cho “carried his grief quietly and faithfully” and found comfort in family, friends, his church and community, his sons said.
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He enjoyed golfing, dancing, eating with friends and spending time with his family, including his sisters, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other extended family.
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“We are struggling to understand how something so senseless could happen to a man who lived with such gentleness and grace,” said Justin and David.
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RCMP say it received a shots-fired call at around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 30 near 18th and Humphries avenues. Officers who responded didn’t find any injured victims.
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Later that day, police were asked to check on Cho’s welfare. Officers entered his apartment at Hillside Gardens in the 7400-block of Kingsway and found Cho dead from a gunshot wound. The back of the apartment complex Cho lives sits about half-a-block from the location where police received the shots-fired call.
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Queenie Choo, CEO of SUCCESS, which manages the B.C. Housing building, expressed her condolences to the Cho family, loved ones and tenants affected by the shooting. She said Cho has lived at Hillside for several years.
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“It’s so shocking. It’s a very traumatic incident that happened in such a peaceful community,” said Choo.
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The non-profit is in discussions with police and is considering boosting their staff presence and security at the 162-suite complex, but realistically: “I don’t know if we can prevent it from happening, because it’s just so senseless,” she added.
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IHIT investigators have identified a group of youths believed to have been involved in the shooting and urged them to come forward to police. The Cho brothers echoed the police’s appeal, asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.
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“We especially urge the youth identified by investigators, and their parents, to do the right thing. Please turn yourselves in to police.”
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