He would come bounding up the stairs of a house laughing and smiling, hugging everybody in sight.

Surrey resident Gurpreet "Garry" Singh Bassi had friends going back to his days as a little Grade 7 student who wore a ghutti (small turban).

And many more who knew the Surrey resident as the powerfully built 23-year-old he became, the result of intense gym workouts that earned him the nickname of "boss."

He was a protective friend and brother who liked to roughhouse with his young relatives.

One young woman remembers a supportive friend who would urge her to be brave.

"... don't cry," he would tell her.

"You're a strong girl."

There are dozens of messages posted at a Facebook memorial site created by his heart-broken family and friends, most expressing shock and disbelief at his murder.

Bassi was discovered dead inside a 1992 white four-door Honda Accord in the parking lot at Surrey Lake Park on 152 Street near 72 Avenue around 6 p.m. Monday.

Police said the car may have been there with Bassi inside for several days.

His murder was not random, investigators believe.

A spokesperson for the regional Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said there were no confirmed links to gangs or organized crime but investigators are exploring that as a possibility.

Bassi was known to police, an IHIT statement said.

Court records show Bassi was convicted in June of 2006 of one count of causing another person to fear injury or damage in connection with a July 2005 incident when he was a teenager.

He was given a fine and placed on probation.

Bassi was facing trial on weapons possession charges in connection with an August 2008 incident.

The charges laid included unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless use of a firearm, possessing prohibited weapons without a licence and possessing a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition.

He was free on bail awaiting the resumption of his trial in Surrey Provincial Court in May of 2010.

The bulk of his criminal record appears to consist of traffic violations.

Bassi was charged with a variety of offences at several different locations including Whistler, Squamish and Delta, including failing to remain at the scene of an accident, failing to stop at a stop sign, failing to wear a seat-belt and speeding.

Anyone with information about his murder is asked to call the IHIT Tip Line at 1-877-551-4448 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

dferguson@surreyleader.com