Suspect set fire to Surrey shopkeeper, witness says

In a terrifying incident at a currency exchange in the Whalley area of ​​Surrey on Friday afternoon, a witness claims a robber set a shopkeeper on fire before fleeing the scene.

Local police said they responded to a “serious assault” in the 10200 block of City Parkway around 1:10 p.m. and a victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Police have not released details about the attack or the nature of the victim’s injuries, but a witness at the scene said he saw a man enter through the back door, throw gasoline on the victim, set him on fire and flee.

The shopkeeper, engulfed in flames, ran past the witness and rushed to the opposite sidewalk, where his wife and passers-by rushed to put out the fire with blankets, according to the witness.

“His whole body was on fire,” Jessica Vesper said. “He was burning alive.”

She said passers-by managed to put out the flames before firefighters arrived, but the man suffered severe burns to his face and arms and his clothes were singed.

“I think one more minute and he wouldn’t have survived,” she said. “His wife was crying, everyone was crying.”

Surrey RCMP say the suspect then stole a car and remains at large.

“Police remain on scene and are actively searching for the suspect. Investigators are examining the scene, speaking with witnesses and canvassing the area for surveillance footage,” the detachment wrote in a news release. “The investigation is still in its early stages and police are working to determine a motive for the crime.”

The stolen vehicle is a white Mini Cooper with black stripes and black rims, with British Columbia licence plate D80745, police say.

A vehicle stolen after an assault in Surrey on Friday, August 2 is seen in this image distributed by Surrey RCMP. Police described the suspect as a young man, 25 to 30 years old, with a moustache. He was wearing black pants, a black and grey hoodie with black sleeves and a green baseball cap with “Cariboo” written on it.

The suspect in an assault that occurred in Surrey on Friday, August 2 is seen in this image distributed by Surrey RCMP. Anyone who sees the suspect or the stolen vehicle is asked to not approach and to call 911, and anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.