A North Vancouver man who was injured in a gangland-style Richmond shootout four years ago has gone missing.
Police are asking for the publics help in finding 35-year-old Vahid Mahanian, who was reported missing on Thursday by his mother and fiancée.
Police investigators said Mahanian was last seen June 27 at around 2 p.m. when he had lunch in Vancouver with two friends.
Since then, theres been no sign of Mahanian and he has not been in contact with family or friends. Sgt. Peter DeVries of the North Vancouver RCMP said that is out of character.
Nobody knows what happened to him, said DeVries.
Police have also not been able to locate Mahanians car, a blue 1994 Pontiac Grand Am with the licence plate 051 RAN.
DeVries said theres no indication Mahanians disappearance is linked to a crime, although with any investigation of a missing person, were always concerned that a criminal act has been a reason a person might have gone missing.
Four years ago, in January 2007, Mahanian was shot in Richmonds Dover Park during a dramatic gangland shootout where two other men, gangsters Niki Tajali and Sahand Askari, were also wounded.
Askari, Tajali, and Tajalis older brother David had all been previously involved in gangs involved in violent turf wars over the drug trade throughout the Lower Mainland.
Three years later, David Tajali was killed in a targeted hit on a Calgary street. Niki Tajali was also shot, but survived.
Askari also escaped injury in a targeted hit in Coquitlam last year.
DeVries said Mahanian isnt currently the subject of any police investigations, adding RCMP arent characterizing him as a gang member.
Mahanian does have a criminal history.
He was sent to jail for four years for the 1997 home invasion of a North Vancouver businessman and his family. Mahanian and his girlfriend at the time wore balaclavas and brandished guns, tying up the businessman and his wife while their young children were sleeping.
DeVries said Mahanians mother told police that he has recently gone back to school and has made an effort to turn his life around. She would tell you hes been quite proactive and positive in the last few years about making a life for himself, he said.
DeVries said police have already received tips and are following up on those.
Mahanian is of Middle Eastern descent, with a medium build, black hair and brown eyes. At the time he was last seen, Mahanian was wearing a blue T-shirt, shorts and white runners.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Corp. Michael Kokkoris at 604-969-7516 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
jseyd@nsnews.com
