British Columbia

Vigil held for slain Surrey, B.C., woman Tori Dunn

A vigil was held in Surrey Saturday night for Tori Dunn, the victim of a homicide last Sunday in Surrey’s Port Kells neighbourhood.

Tori Dunn died in hospital on June 16 after being found injured in a home in Port Kells, police say

A funerary photo of a white woman smiling with a black dog. Text reads 'Tori Dunn, December 30th, 1993 - June 16th, 2024.'
A photo of Tori Dunn, a 30-year-old Surrey woman, is seen at a vigil honouring her life. Dunn died in what her family says was a home invasion at a Surrey home last weekend. (Sohrab Sandhu/CBC)

A large group of people assembled at Surrey Bend Regional Park for a vigil in honour of Tori Dunn, who was killed in Surrey, B.C., last weekend. 

Investigators say Surrey RCMP officers were called to a home near the 9800-block of 182A Street around 10 p.m. PT on Sunday, and found 30-year-old Dunn with life-threatening injuries.

She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, where she died of her injuries.

Homicide investigators have described the crime as a "senseless act," with Dunn's family saying that they believe the Surrey woman died in a home invasion — though her father Aron Dunn says details about the killing are still being withheld from the family. 

A bald white man speaks at a vigil, wearing a blue shirt and a navy blue coat.
Aron Dunn, the father of slain Surrey woman Tori Dunn, said his family would fight for justice for his daughter. (Sohrab Sandhu/CBC)

"We've learned more from the media than we have from the investigation team," Dunn told CBC News. 

Dunn said his daughter's fiancé told the family the pair had just returned home from a birthday dinner when Tori Dunn was attacked as she was falling asleep on the couch.

The grieving father recounted his last conversation with his daughter, which took place over the phone on the morning of Father's Day.

"I'm so grateful that she phoned me," he said. "It was less than hours later that this happened."

He emphasized the vigil served not only to remember Tori but also to call for justice and answers.

A bald man and a man in a beanie hug in an outdoor environment.
Aron Dunn, the father of slain Surrey woman Tori Dunn, hugs another person with his back to the camera. Dunn says his daughter died in a home invasion. (Sohrab Sandhu/CBC)

In a statement released Wednesday, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says a suspect was located and taken into police custody. IHIT says the suspect remains in custody for an unrelated charge that has not been identified by the investigation team.

CBC News has reached out to IHIT and Surrey RCMP for further details on the suspect. Police have not yet confirmed that Dunn died in a home invasion.

"My family is outraged and we're going to fight," Dunn added. "We're mad. We're going to get justice for my daughter."

A white woman wearing a GoPro and a beanie smiles.
Tori Dunn, aged 30, has been identified by homicide investigators as the victim of a homicide in the Port Kells neighbourhood on June 16 2024. She died of her injuries in hospital. (Submitted by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team)

Victim owned landscaping business

Hailey Dunn, Tori's cousin, expressed disbelief over the tragedy.

"I think people are appalled," Hailey said. "I think that people that knew Tori are the most shocked because, again, how could this happen to somebody so kind?"

Three women look at a camera at a vigil. The person in the centre is wearing a T-shirt reading 'Justice for Tori', with a woman to the left carrying a sign that partially reads 'Tori Dunn'.
Hailey Dunn, centre, says the killing of Tori Dunn has left her in disbelief. (Sohrab Sandhu/CBC)

Tori Dunn was the owner of a local landscaping business called Dunn Right Landscaping, and Hailey said her cousin had a lot of ambition and drive as a young businesswoman.

"She's probably one of the hardest workers I personally met," Hailey said. "She was determined to make something of herself."

With files from Sohrab Sandhu and Michelle Ghoussoub