By Adam Berls

crime

PG’s top cop says that 5 homicides this year have been linked to drugs

Aug 3, 2023 | 3:12 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — One of the deadliest years on record in a quarter century. That is the title that Prince George currently holds right now, as eight homicides have been recorded so far this year. Superintendent Shaun Wright with the Prince George RCMP says that with an increase in violent crime, it is concerning.

“We are seeing an increase in violent crime for this year. So obviously that’s concerning to us. One of the developments we’ve had is the provincial government’s roll out of the repeat violent offender program. So in conjunction with Crown Counsel and Probation and some other agencies, we’ve been getting engaged with that over the last few months as that started up.” – Superintendent Shaun Wright, PG RCMP

Superintendent Wright says 5 of the homicides had a common link.

“We did find a bit of a disturbing trend from last year and into some of the early homicides we had this year with the involvement of drug trafficking groups from the Lower Mainland. So that conflict that’s been going on down there for some time is definitely expanding province wide and we’re starting to see the effects of that in that conflict up here as well.” – Superintendent Shaun Wright, PG RCMP

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Statistics Canada data shows that this is the worst year for homicides in and around Prince George in 25 years, and we’re barely half way through it. In 1998 for example, there were only two homicides in total for the year. In 2001 there was only one, in 2004 there were six. Another deadly year was in 2010 when there were 7 homicides recorded resulting in the city being labelled Canada’s most dangerous city. This year, 5 out of 8 homicides have been linked to drugs, and with a link to the Lower Mainland, Dr. Robert Gordon, a criminologist with Simon Fraser University, believes that groups may be competing for control.

“What’s happened in that area is that the industry on the supply side has been well established over the years. There are competing groups and from time to time they engage in violent activity which is linked to control over the industry.” – Dr. Robert Gordon, Criminologist, SFU

The RCMP says that all eight homicides appear to be targeted and that they are working diligently to identify those responsible for the recent spike in violence.

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Twitter: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com