A home in the Central Fort George neighbourhood remained behind police tape and investigators were on the scene Monday searching for clues that could help solve the first homicide of the year in Prince George.
In what police described as a targeted attack, a 30-year-old man died in hospital Friday from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. RCMP had been called to the scene in the 700 block of Johnson St. at about 5 p.m. and found the man outside the home.
The home had the markings of a drug house, a neighbour said, with some rough characters passing through over the years. However, RCMP said Monday that police cannot yet confirm whether the homicide was related to the drug trade.
"Investigators will look at all possible motives," Prince George RCMP Cpl. Craig Douglass said.
A house for sale with a "sold" sign on top was posted on the front lawn and another neighbour said it appeared the home's occupants were in the process of moving out.
Another neighbour said she did not hear any shots but did see police converge on the scene.
"It was kind of scary because they [RCMP] had come out with their guns," she said.
About the only contact she had with those living in the house occurred when an "older gentleman" knocked on the door of her home and asked for a cigarette.
"My friend does smoke so he gave him a cigarette and he left," she said. "And then he came back the next day and wanted another cigarette and we just thought 'well, this is just getting to be like...' so we said no, that's it.
She never had any trouble with those living in the home but had heard rumblings about "lots of activity going on there."
"I know that they're everywhere, these drug houses or whatever," she said. "I just didn't think there was any in our neighbourhood to tell you the truth because you don't really watch for that, or at least I don't."
It was the first homicide of the year, RCMP confirmed. Police have not provided the victim's name.
In contrast, four investigations into homicides were opened in 2017 beginning in late January with a double murder after two men were found shot dead in a vehicle on the side of Foothills Blvd. near North Nechako Rd. A third person found in the vehicle survived and four men - Seaver Tye Miller, Aaron Ryan Moore, Joshua Steven West and Perry Andrew Charlie - are to go to trial on counts of first-degree murder in 2019.
And Christopher Clarke Prince remains in custody on a count of second-degree murder of Shane Whitford in May.
Police are also treating as homicides the disappearances of Roberta Marie Sims in May and Lloyd Sword in August.
