RCMP homicide investigators believe they may have cracked two gang-related murders in Metro Vancouver, including that of Jonathan Barber, an innocent bystander gunned down in Burnaby in May 2008 as he drove a high-end SUV owned by a man police identified as a gang member.The scene is shown here.
Police have laid charges in the 2008 death of a man who happened to be driving a gang member's car when he was hit by gunfire.
Jonathan Barber, 24, was driving through a busy Lower Mainland suburb in order to have a stereo installed in the Porsche when the car was riddled with shots.
His 17-year-old girlfriend, driving behind him to give him a ride after he dropped off the vehicle, was wounded, but survived.
Six men - five already in custody on other charges - are facing counts of first-degree murder involving Mr. Barber and the attempted murder of Vicky King.
Superintendent Doug Kilo, chief officer of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, said Mr. Barber picked up the Porsche from a member of the gang-linked Bacon family, but had no idea he was in danger.
Superintendent Dan Malo, head of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, said Mr. Barber was neither a criminal or associated with gangs.
"This was an innocent individual in our community, who was caught in the crossfire," Supt. Malo told a news conference.
"[He]was a complete innocent simply doing his job," he said, adding the job was to take the car to a shop for the installation of stereo equipment.
Police also announced first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of known gang member Kevin LeClair, shot dead on Feb. 6, 2009 at a suburban shopping mall.
One of the accused, Connor D'Monte, is described by police as current leader of the criminal UN Gang, whose former leader Clayton Roueche is serving a 30-year sentence on drug convictions in the United States.