[Harvey Specter]

A man killed in what police say was a targeted shooting in a Surrey park early Thursday was a house builder and the son of a prominent Langley developer.

Marc Bontkes, 33, founded Designmarc Homes. He was the son of Robert Bontkes of the Benchmark Group of Properties, a successful family-owned venture that includes construction, property management, and commercial, industrial and residential land development, mainly in the Surrey-Langley area.

Marc Bontkes, who had a wife and a young child, was killed in a targeted shooting at Hi-Knoll Park, but police said they had no evidence yet linking him to any gang, drug or crime activity.

“We have not made any clear association links so far in the investigation. That may take a while,” said Cpl. Dale Carr, spokesperson for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).

Carr said there was nothing yet to establish this shooting is related to any of the others that have rocked Metro Vancouver in recent months.

Bontkes was convicted in 2001 of assault and uttering a threat, but Carr said he was not “known to police” in any substantial way.

Carr said it was too early in the investigation to determine whether the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.

John Titus, owner of Homelife Benchmark Titus Realty, worked with Bontkes, selling the homes the young man built through Designmarc.

“Marc was a tenacious young man. He had a super-big heart,” said Titus, who lives in one of the homes Bontkes built. “It would get to him when a homeowner wasn’t happy with a house, like having a squeak in the floor.”

While an emotional Titus said Bontkes had a wild side, he stressed there was no indication the man or his friends were involved in anything criminal.

“None of these guys were gangsters. There were never any weapons,” said Titus, who was left wondering what his friend was doing in the Surrey park in the middle of the night.

“What he’d be doing at Knoll Park at 3:30 in the morning, I don’t understand that. I don’t get that. That doesn’t make sense to me.”

Carr said that is also the question police will be trying to answer as they interview Bontkes’ friends and relatives this weekend.

“That is one of the biggest questions we are trying to answer: why he was there, who he was there with, and what was he there for?” Carr said.

“We’re hoping people will come forward who knew him, who can offer some insight on Marc. His family has been very helpful and cooperative.”

Police believe Bontkes was shot in the location where his body was found, and Carr said a minivan parked nearby did not appear to be linked to the victim or any suspect.

Dale Kirkland, a realtor with Homelife who worked with Bontkes, his brothers and his father for about eight years, said the family was very well-respected.

“Marc was a great young fellow, and we’re going to miss him deeply. No one deserves to end up this way. He had a heart of gold and would have done anything for anyone,” Kirkland said.

“He was very conscientious and caring, and he took great pride in producing homes that he built.”

A Facebook site created to remember Bontkes says his funeral will be held March 25 at the Canadian Reformed Church of Langley.

“Marc held a very special place in the hearts of his family and friends,” the site says.

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-543-9217 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.


lculbert@vancouversun.com

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