A 31-year-old Victoria man, Tyler Joseph Pastuck, has been identified as the victim of a Langley shooting.
A statement released by the regional Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said Pastuck and the surviving male victim were known to each other, and the shooting on Friday night was believed to be targeted.
A picture of Pastuck was posted to a Gofundme page set up to pay for his funeral.
The message posted to the web page said Pastuck was in Langley to catch a flight to the Yukon for employment and when his flight was cancelled, Pastuck phoned a friend to go for dinner.
Without citing sources, the written account describes how Pastuck and the friend were attacked when they left the restaurant just before midnight.
“His friend first went to the washroom where he would be meeting Tyler within a few minutes out in the restaurant parking lot. When Tyler walked outside, he was fatally shot and was pronounced dead at the scene … his friend too was shot as soon as he came out to meet Tyler.”
Image from GoFundme page - “In Loving Memory Of Tyler Pastuck”
Web image
Pastuck, then 26, was sentenced to seven years in a federal prison, less 27 months for time served, for his part in the Feb. 27, 2010 beating death of 28-year-old Christopher Smythe at a Campbell River area house party.
Smythe was attacked by several men and died three days after the assault from blunt force injuries.
A report on the incident described how police found Pastuck hiding in a closet in the townhouse, covered in mud and the blood of the victim.
Derek Crowther, 23, and Jacob Lawrence, 20 were also arrested. Crowther was sentenced to six years but Lawrence never stood trial because he died in a motorcycle accident.
IHIT said the injured man remains in hospital following the late-night shooting in the parking lot of a Langley restaurant on 200 Street near 62 Avenue.
The attack took place around midnight Friday, while the restaurant was still open.
The area was marked off with yellow police tape and the Coroner’s office and forensic experts were on the scene Saturday morning.
A dark, four-door full-size pickup truck with a tarp covering the driver’s side door appeared to be the focus of the investigation.
Judging from the number of yellow markers on the ground, multiple shots were fired, leaving spent shell casings scattered near the pickup.
An image posted on social media appeared to show a handgun lying on the ground.
IHIT said that just before midnight, the Langley RCMP responded to reports of gunfire at the Browns Socialhouse restaurant at 101-20065 Langley Bypass.
Police found two male victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
A 31-year-old man, now known to be Pastuck, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The injured 33-year-old was transported to hospital with serious injuries, but was expected survive.
“This was a brazen shooting in a busy restaurant, putting the public at risk,” Cpl. Meghan Foster of IHIT said.
A burning vehicle was located a short distance away near the intersection of 203 Street and 63 Avenue. At this time, it cannot be confirmed if this vehicle was involved in the homicide, IHIT said.
CTV News reported one witness said stray bullets burst through a window, making people inside Browns dive for the floor while another witness saw an injured man inside the restaurant with wounds to the leg, stomach and the chest.
A message posted to the Browns Socialhouse Langley Centre Facebook page on Saturday said the restaurant was closed until police gave permission to re-open.
“Luckily no guests or staff were harmed,” the message said.
The restaurant re-opened for brunch on Sunday.
