Jatinder Michael Sandhu, known to his loved ones as Michael, was a caring and honest 28-year-old man from Surrey, British Columbia. Remembered by his family as having a heart of gold, he was the eldest of three siblings and a beloved son. Michael was a hardworking and quiet person who worked full-time at a bank and was studying to get his real estate license. He was very loving and always smiling, a great person overall who would do anything for anyone. He adored his dog, Gucci, and looked forward to a future that included marriage and children. His family remembers a man who was robbed of his future and all the milestones they would have shared with him.
On the evening of July 23, 2016, Michael had dinner with his family before meeting a friend for coffee. Later that night, he and his friend, Sean Pasha, were sitting in a car parked in the driveway of Pasha's home in the 14300 block of 90A Avenue in Surrey when they were suddenly gunned down.
Surrey RCMP responded to a report of shots fired and found both men suffering from gunshot wounds. Michael was struck in the arm and head; he was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. His friend was hit in the shoulder but survived.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took conduct of the case and quickly determined that the shooting was linked to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict. However, investigators have repeatedly stated that neither Michael nor his friend had any criminal records or affiliations with gangs. Evidence gathered since the beginning of the investigation has suggested that the two men were not the intended targets and that Michael's murder was a tragic case of mistaken identity. Police noted at the time that a relative of the surviving victim was connected to the local gang conflict.
Over the years, Michael's family has endured unimaginable pain. "The pain of Michael's murder remains with us till this day," his mother, Kal Sandhu, said in a statement. "There has not been a day where he has not been in our thoughts or tears." The family has been robbed of watching him get married, have children, or even change careers. Holidays and birthdays are especially difficult. On the tenth anniversary of his death, his family shared the story of his young niece asking why her "Taya Ji" (uncle) couldn't come to her birthday party from Heaven. His mother has made public pleas for the person responsible to come forward, saying, "You made a mistake, come forward. Do the right thing."
IHIT investigators have consistently renewed their appeals for information on the anniversaries of Michael's death. "Families suffer and have to cope and heal," said Sgt. David Lee of IHIT. "Our thoughts are with them as we continue to investigate." On the tenth anniversary in July 2026, Sgt. Freda Fong expressed gratitude to the family for sharing their message to help keep attention on the case. "Someone may hold information that could make a difference," she stated. Michael’s family honors his memory with a dedication plaque in a local Surrey park.
The investigation into the murder of Jatinder Michael Sandhu remains active and unsolved. Investigators believe there are people who have key information that could solve the case and bring a measure of closure to his grieving family. Time passes and allegiances change, and police hope that someone who knows what happened will finally come forward. IHIT continues to ask anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact them.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at [email protected].
