Lower Mainland’s violent gang conflict now B.C.-wide: Police

A violent gang conflict that originated on the Lower Mainland with tit-for-tat murders and public shootings has now expanded throughout B.C. and beyond, senior police leaders said Monday.

Indicative of the spreading danger is the June 2021 murder in Naramata of businesswoman Kathleen Richardson, whose son was allegedly involved in the conflict, they said.

RCMP Chief Supt. Elija Rain told reporters that Richardson was found dead in her home on June 9 by police who attended looking for information in connection with the May 2021 murders of Kamloops brothers Erick and Carlo Fryer.

“When officers arrived at her home, they discovered the door was insecure, and no one answered their knocks,” Rain said. “Police entered to check the well-being of the occupants, which is when they found Kathleen.”

On Friday, Vancouver Red Scorpion gangster Ekene Anigbo and his associate, Jalen Falk, both 23, were charged with first-degree murder in Richardson’s death.