ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - The killing of an innocent 74-year-old man during a targeted shooting in British Columbia's Fraser Valley has left neighbours in fear, police searching for suspects and local politicians calling for community unity.

The unidentified Abbotsford senior was struck by a bullet while standing by a fence in his yard just after 7 p.m. Wednesday, said Const. Ian MacDonald of the Abbotsford Police Department.

He said a vehicle in a neighbouring driveway was hit by several bullets.

"We don’t believe this individual would have been shot at for any reason," MacDonald said. "He has no negative background whatsoever. This is an upstanding citizen. He merely was outside."

The senior died on the scene.

MacDonald said several homes in the area have security cameras and he hopes they will help in the investigation.

Sgt. Jennifer Pound of the Integrated Homicide Enforcement Team said the unit has taken over the case.

"There is a devastated family left behind to grieve this with a lot of answers that they’re not going to get," she said.

Pound said a dark SUV was seen leaving the area, and officers must still examine surveillance video.

Henry Zukowski, a teacher who lives up the street, said surveillance cameras haven't deterred gang activity that has been a problem for at least a year.

He called on the city to hold a forum so residents can voice their concerns.

"Nobody should feel threatened and, you know, be subjected to this kind of behaviour, to lose a loved one, right, an innocent bystander," Zukowski said. "The city obviously hasn’t done enough to protect us and police. I mean they can only do so much right?”

Shiminder Sharma said he heard multiple gunshots and watched the victim’s son run out to meet police.

He said the victim often played with neighbourhood children.

"We are scared. We want this to be finished," Sharma said.

The City of Abbotsford announced Thursday that a forum on community safety will take place Sept. 10.

Mayor Henry Braun said he believes the community will find solutions to the violence by coming together.

"I am confident that together we will accomplish far more if we focus our collective efforts," he said in a news release.

Chief Bob Rich of the Abbotsford police said the force will create a gang-enforcement team and officers will treat the threat to public safety as a top priority.

"We will not stop until public safety is restored," he said in a news release. (CKNW, News 1130)

News from © The Canadian Press, 2015