It’s been a busy start to 2024 for both the Prince George RCMP and the North District Major Crimes Unit.
Police confirmed six homicides have been recorded in the Prince George area and we are not even at the end of April.
The latest homicide investigation was launched on Friday after Edward Michael Milne of PG was identified as the victim of the human remains case near the Bowron River, northwest of Purden Lake.
PG’s first murder occurred on January 5th after an early-morning shooting occurred along the 500-block of Ottawa Street. Initial reports from police noted that a man was suffering from a serious gunshot wound but passed away less than a month later.
Roughly a month later, the case was upgraded from an attempted murder investigation to a second-degree murder after Fabian James Charlie was slapped with the offence – at last report, he remains in custody.
The northern capital’s second homicide occurred February 13th on the 800-block of Victoria Street. Investigators received a report of shots fired at the location just after 11 pm.
When police officers arrived, they located the single male victim deceased from his injuries.
The investigation is ongoing.
Cpl. Jennifer Cooper of the Prince George detachment told MyPGNow.com most of the files have been centered around the gang and drug files but the public should remain vigilant of their surroundings.
“Most of what we are seeing is targeted. However, it does bring more violence into our city and, we have not had much spillover into everyday life as of yet and we are working diligently at the detachment to make sure that does not happen.”
“It’s a continuing trend we are working diligently to try and tackle from multiple angles within the detachment. Our violent crime numbers are up with much of it centred around organized crime and the illicit drug trade,” mentioned Cooper.
She added while the majority of the public is not involved in drug and gang activity, the fact it continues to fester does raise some concerns.
“Should you be more concerned if you are living a lifestyle that brings you into contact with organized crime and the illicit drug trade? Likely, that is where we are seeing a lot of our violence and that area might encounter more violence – however, with it being in our city, it is concerning because that does bring it closer to citizens who are not involved.”
March was another tough month for violent crime.
The BC RCMP’s North District Major Crime Unit was deployed to a suspicious death near Prince George where they located a deceased person was located on the Salmon River Forest Service Road.
Frontline officers attended the scene and located the victim just off the roadway.
The file was later ruled a homicide.
Roughly 24 hours later (March 11th), PG Mounties were called to another suspicious death – this time it was a deceased woman who was found on the 2000 block of Quince Street.
This too was upgraded to a murder according to Cpl. Cooper.
Lastly, a teenage boy was killed during the early morning hours of March 28th.
According to the Prince George RCMP, police responded to a reported stabbing on the 1600 block of Pine Street.
The 17-year-old youth was found and taken to the hospital but did not survive. Three youth suspects were arrested soon after the call was made, the investigation is ongoing.
Upon return from spring break, School District 57 offered counselling services following the PGSS student’s death. Resources were also made available at Harwin Elementary and Duchess Park where the male victim also attended.
Prince George recorded eight murders in all of 2023.