The man found inside this car Monday was a victim of homicide, police say.The man found inside this car Monday was a victim of homicide, police say. (CBC)

Police released the name of the man found dead in a car in Surrey, B.C., Monday afternoon, saying he was the victim of a homicide and was known to police.

The body of Gurpreet Singh Bassi, 23, was found dead inside a 1992 Honda Accord in the parking lot at Surrey Lake Park by an officer on patrol Monday afternoon.

Police wouldn't say how Bassi was killed or if he was slain in the place where he was found, but they do believe the car had been there for a number of days.

"We want the community to know we do believe this was a targeted incident. It was not a random attack," RCMP Cpl. Lee-Anne Dunlop told CBC News.

Dunlop asked that anyone who noticed the car or anything suspicious about it call the RCMP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.