RCMP investigators say they're are actively but secretively working on the biggest crime question of 2010. Who killed Darren Munch?
"It is still a priority for the detachment," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass. "They [Major Crimes Unit detectives] won't even tell me if they have one suspect or 10 or none, they are keeping things very much to themselves. The details of the investigation, as it is very active and ongoing, will remain with the investigators only for fear of jeopardizing the outcome."
Munch was murdered in the street by a gunman on the 2400 block of Oak Street in front of shocked residents, including children.
The date of the killing was Aug. 14, 2010 and although there were many witnesses and physical clues, no arrests have been made. Police did ascertain and announce quickly, however, that the incident was a dispute among street-level players in the local organized crime industry.
Almost exactly one year later and one block over - Aug. 9 near the corner of Diefenbaker Drive and Quince Street - another sunny day was disturbed by gang gunfire in the middle of a residential neighbourhood.
This time, a stray bullet nearly struck an innocent passerby and this time two arrests were made as soon as police arrived.
This incident was also a gangland dispute, said police, and others involved in the spray of bullets are still at large.
"We continue to work towards charges being laid," Douglass said. "We did make two arrests there and we know there were others involved, but we can only work with the evidence we have."
Thankfully, no one was injured in the most recent shooting. The fatal injuries to Munch were, said Douglass, "a brutal crime" that took one life and endangered anyone within range.
In both cases, people left the scene who put their own personal interests ahead of the life and safety of random people all around them.
"We would really appreciate any information. If anyone was a witness or if anyone knows any possible information, please pass that on to investigators," Douglass said.
Call the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca, or text a tip to CRIMES using keyword "pgtips".
