Six Suspicious Deaths in Ten Days in the Lower Mainland

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has had a busy two weeks in the Lower Mainland investigating numerous suspicious deaths.

A 16-year-old male was charged in a Burnaby murder. On September 24, Burnaby RCMP responded to several reports of shots near Lougheed Highway and Rosser Avenue. At the scene, 20-year-old Aladdin Ramadan was found dead of gunshot wounds. On October 2, a 16-year-old male was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder. Staff Sergeant Jennifer Pound says that the suspect had a loaded firearm when he was arrested in a very public location.

A gunfight between two men has left one dead and the other in critical condition. Ridge Meadows RCMP responded just after 8:00 a.m. on September 30 to a dispute involving weapons at Lougheed Highway and Laity Street in Maple Ridge. They found a 29-year-old male, Louie Sparvier, suffering from life-threatening injuries. After being taken to hospital, Sparvier succumbed to his injuries before 2:30 p.m. Another individual with life-threatening injuries was also found and was in critical condition at the hospital. “Early information suggests that the two males were known to each other and an argument between them ensued resulting in a fight where they sustained injuries consistent with an edged weapon and gunshot wounds,” says Pound.

A son has been charged with the death of his 67-year-old mother in Sechelt. On October 1, Sunshine Coast RCMP and BC Ambulance responded to a call on Selma Park Road. There, they found a 67-year-old Esma Lachance deceased with injuries consistent with foul play. At the scene, RCMP located and arrested a 47-year-old suspect. The man, Donovan Penner, was the son of Lachance, and he was charged October 2 with Second Degree Murder. He will appear in Sechelt Provincial Court on October 15 via video.

On October 1, a man died after breaking into a residence in Langley. The resident and a neighbour had attempted to retrain 51-year-old Clayton Marr until police could arrive, and he became unconscious. After police arrived, the man was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The two males were initially arrested from evidence at the scene, but further evidence and scene processing didn't support charges, and the males have since been released. An autopsy is being done to determine the cause of Marr's death.

Just before 12:30 a.m. on October 2, Richmond RCMP responded to shots fired on Regina Avenue. When they arrived, they found an unresponsive male who had apparent gunshot wounds. His name has not yet been released, but Pound said that it appeared to be a targeted homicide.

A male who appeared to be in his late teens was found dead in an SUV with gunshot wounds on Thursday evening. At 7:45 p.m. on October 2, officers from Abbotsford Police Department responded to shots in the area of Sparrow Drive and Goldfinch Street. The first officer on the scene found a dark-coloured SUV with the male inside. After assessing him, they found he was deceased and other officers searched unsuccessfully for suspects or other potential victims. Witnesses say that two vehicles left the area at high speed.

Since January 1, IHIT has investigated 43 cases. Of these confirmed homicide investigations, 21 per cent were related to organized crime compared to 41 per cent between January 1 and October 3 in 2013.