It’s been a week since a fatal stabbing happened in White Rock, and now – after a suspect was arrested Monday (April 29), there are signs of a community coming out of its shell along the waterfront.
Cars are parked in promenade parking lots, with plenty of people walking — some with dogs — and friends and family enjoying the seaside city’s many eateries and shops.
While the sunshine likely helped encourage people to get outside, especially after several days of pouring rain, the news of two recent stabbings in the city — within just days of each other, prior to a suspect being arrested — has had the community on edge, with many taking to social media to express their concerns.
Jatinder Singh, 28, was stabbed in the back of his neck on Sunday, April 23, shortly after 9 p.m., east of the city’s pier and white rock. He required stitches, but survived.
Two nights later, around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, Kulwinder Singh Sohi was stabbed to death, about 500 metres from the initial attack.
Seaside community reacts
“This person is especially dangerous as he has murdered someone and he has nothing to lose in his head probably. He’s unhinged,” one person posted to social media a few days after Sohi was killed.
Another post suggested staying loyal to local businesses.
“Business need our support. Went down for dinner tonight. They will find the individual that has created fear in our community,” it read.
Many posted condolences to the victim’s family and friends, with flowers laid near the site of Sohi’s death the very next morning, near the Grand Chief Bernard Robert Charles Memorial Plaza parking lot.
Not too far away, businesses along the East Beach stretch were feeling the impact of the two stabbings, with business owners agreeing the stabbings have had an impact on their business over the past week — as well as their staff and customers.
“We’ve experienced a drastic slowdown in business. The promenade is almost empty. … I’m not sure if it’s completely related to these incidents, or if the weather added to the slowdown, but the last two days (have been) terrible in terms of business,” said Yuriy Makogonsky Thursday (April 25), when the weather was extremely soggy.
As the owner of Moby Dick restaurant for 10 years, Makogonsky recalled an old Peace Arch News issue from years ago.
“I think it was nine or 10 years ago — I opened your newspaper … they used to deliver it to every porch in White Rock, and there was an article on the front page — a peacock laid an egg on someone’s porch in White Rock and was the big news on the front page — and I just laughed and told myself, ‘This must be a super safe place to live in if they put this news on the front page,’” he said.
“Now, it’s completely different. All the conversations with staff, with customers, are all about this tragic incident,” he said, in reference to Sohi’s death.
“They all feel unsafe.”
White Rock Mayor Megan Knight and Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford echoed his sentiments at a vigil for Sohi on Sunday night (April 28), with Knight saying people in the city “are just devastated” and Halford describing the community as “broken.”
“This is a community that I’ve lived in my entire life, and I can tell you people are, are scared, they’re frustrated and they’re angry, and I’m all those things as well right now,” he said at the vigil.
Businesses weigh in
Anthony Manning, vice-president of the South Surrey White Rock Chamber of Commerce, called the incidents “senseless, random attacks.”
“Businesses in our community can only thrive when they and their customers are safe,” Manning said, and added there has been a spate of break-ins and vandalism across the Peninsula in addition to the stabbings.
“This adds cost at a time when business can least afford it. We are open to bringing our members and law enforcement together to create workable solutions,” Manning said.
The White Rock Business Improvement Association (BIA) posted a message to Facebook to say “thank you” to the community and to the RCMP, and to express condolences to friends and family members of the stabbing victims.
“Thank you to everyone who, despite fear, have come down to support our businesses either in person or by ordering take out,” the BIA said in the post.
“Thank you White Rock, for being an amazing community. Together we are strong, resilient and the support we show each other is like no other.
The posts also reminded readers that anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who was taking photos or video or was driving in the area, are asked contact police.
Next steps: CCTV cameras considered
Since the two stabbings, White Rock RCMP has increased its patrols of the promenade, and has gone from business to business to secure any security camera footage from the nights in question.
Asked by Peace Arch News at a press conference on Wednesday (April 24) about what impact the stabbing incidents would have on planning for White Rock’s many summer events on the waterfront such as Sea Festival, the Concerts at the Pier and the new monthly night market at Memorial Park, White Rock RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob Dixon said an increased police presence will definitely be a factor.
At the same presser, White Rock chief administrative officer Guillermo Ferrero said that, following direction from council last September, staff have been calling for quotes from suppliers of closed-circuit television cameras for possible installation on Marine Drive.
“So we’ll be bringing a report to council on May 15 with some options in regard to the CCTV cameras,” Ferrero said.
Knight, at the vigil, said the city is committed to doing whatever is needed to help bring that attacker to justice.
“If that also means putting more cameras around, … then that’s what we’re going to do,” she said.
With the sun shining brightly around lunchtime on Monday (April 29), dispelling the grey and gloom of rain, the deserted promenade of last week was definitely busier, with locals and visitors again venturing along the promenade and to waterfront restaurants and businesses.
Nearly everyone noticed, or commented on, the fact they have seen RCMP members doing more patrols in the days and nights since the two stabbings, with officers even driving quads, or all-terrain vehicles, along the beach, to help keep an eye out.
At Moby Dick’s, people were enjoying themselves in the restaurant’s interior and exterior patio as well as their take-out window. Others walked past on their way to other East Beach restaurants and business, perusing menus and window shopping, while others walked their dogs along the sidewalk.
Further down the waterfront, near the white rock, the parking lots were full and many could be seen walking along the promenade and pier, with restaurant patios partially filled with patrons enjoying the fine weather.
Judging from the posts on social media, others were planning the same.
“Heading down to the promenade this evening.The weather looks like it’s going to be good,” someone posted to a Facebook group on Monday afternoon.
“Hope to see lots of people out.”