One man is dead, another is missing and a third is being held for two attempted murders following a series of violent incidents in and around Williams Lake last week.
With preliminary factors suggesting the crimes are related, Williams Lake has RCMP Insp. Jeff Pelley said Tuesday there are “many moving parts of this investigation.”
At around 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday, August 6, RCMP responded to a shot fired in the 1100 block on Mackenzie Avenue North. Upon arrival, they discovered a 43-year-old man who suffered from gunshot wounds and later died of his injuries in hospital.
A funeral service for Richard Irvine James Duncan Jr., referred to by many as “Savage”, is being held at Ulkatcho Church this Saturday. Richard was from the Ulkatcho and Canoe Creek parishes. His family, mourning his loss, said they knew him as a kind person with a traveling spirit.
No one has been charged in connection with his death.
READ MORE: RCMP investigates early morning murder in Williams Lake
Three days later, on Friday, August 9, police received a complaint about an incident at Rudy Johnson Bridge, Pelley said.
The bridge remained closed for several hours while police searched the bridge and across the bridge over the river embankments while motorists with little information were turned around. Central Cariboo Search and Rescue arrived at around 4pm to help.
When officers were at the Rudy Johnson Bridge site, Pelley said a vehicle was seen on Highway 97 that matched the description of the suspect vehicle in the August 6 murder.
After a brief police chase, the vehicle was prevented from leaving near Airport Road.
Three people were taken into custody.
Jayson Gilbert, 25, has been arrested and charged with two attempted murders related to the Rudy Johnson Bridge incident, Pelley said. The other two people in the vehicle have been released pending further investigation.
When police announced the attempted murder charges on Saturday, police also said the investigation included a missing person aspect.
Branton Regner has not been seen since August 9, 2019 following the incident on Rudy Johnson Bridge.
Regner is described as a Caucasian man, five feet 11 inches tall, about 160 pounds with blue eyes and short brown hair, and a fair complexion.
Regner is known to have lived in Quesnel before and is originally from Dawson Creek.
The RCMP would like to speak to anyone who has information about Regner’s activities in the recent past, especially from August 2, 2019 to August 9, 2019.
ALSO READ: Police post a picture of a man missing following a Rudy Johnson Bridge incident and alleged attempted murder
Pelley confirmed on Tuesday, August 12th that the RCMP was actively searching the Rudy Johnson Bridge area by air, land and water for signs of rain. He admitted foul play was a possibility for Regner’s disappearance.
Once best known for how it was built, the Rudy Johnson Bridge has also been known for more ominous reasons in recent years. At least one victim was thrown from the bridge in what is considered gang activity.
Pelley would not confirm whether this recent surge in criminal activity in the area was related to gang violence. However, he noted that they are investigating all avenues and the support of the Northern District and E Division’s Serious Crime Department has local units working on the case.
On Tuesday in front of Williams Lake Provincial Court, Gilbert video appeared from the police cells across the street.
Several family members were present for the trial in which Gilbert admitted that he would be held in custody pending his next appearance in court on August 28.
Crown asked for a contact list with the names of several people. Crown claims to be witnesses and potential co-defendants in the matter.
In response to the crimes, Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb said it was certainly worrying.
The RCMP, he added, are doing their best to contain crime with the integrated crime department, and they cannot jeopardize the investigation by disclosing too many details.
“You have to be very careful,” he said. “All they let out is that the one at Rudy Johnson Bridge and the one in town are kind of connected.”
Cobb said the 1100 block on Mackenzie Avenue North on Williams Lake has been a “persistent problem” and has been for years.
“If I ever get a call about an error, it’s usually in this area. I don’t know who they belong to, but I know there was a resident who lived up the block and who recently passed away who kept calling and telling me about incidents and happenings in the area. “
He urged the public to provide any information that could help the RCMP.
“It’s very frustrating,” he added. “The police can’t do it alone, their eyes can’t be everywhere. We need to start taking responsibility for some of our actions when we notice things and don’t report them. Sometimes the smallest thing can be a tip that prevents something else from happening. “
If you have any information, you will be asked to call the Williams Lake RCMP at 250 392-6211.
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