The Prince George RCMP is investigating the city’s fifth homicide in four months this year.
According to police, James Archibald Webb was found deceased a week ago (April 19th, 2023) in a rural location approximately 80 kilometres north-east of Prince George.
“Police are investigating this as a homicide and have determined this was a targeted event, with links to the drug trade in Prince George,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper.
“Our Serious Crime Unit has taken conduct of the investigation.”
Mounties are now looking to speak with anyone who saw Webb in the days before he went missing on March 15th, or who may know who he was in contact with before his disappearance.
“We do want to give a large recognition to the staff and volunteers of the Prince George Search and Rescue, who assisted our investigators with the recovery of Webb,” Cooper said.
“The equipment and expertise they lent to this situation was invaluable.”
This is the city’s fifth homicide so far this year.
Prince George’s first two homicides of 2023 occurred within ten days of each other.
On February 4th, police were called to the 500 block of 17th Avenue on a report saying a woman had died in a residence.
The death was deemed suspicious at first, but later became a homicide investigation.
On February 14th, police responded to a disturbance at a residence on the 3700 block of Lansdowne Road, and found one female victim deceased.
Two days later, 23-year-old Prince George resident Danika Payou was arrested in connection with the investigation, and the BC Prosecution Service approved a single charge of second-degree murder.
On March 7th, police responded to an altercation at an apartment building on the 1500 block of Queensway.
Police reported on April 17th that one charge of manslaughter was approved against Dakota Rayn Keewatin in the matter.
On April 4th, police were called to the 2200 block of Quince Street on a report of someone in medical distress, and a man was found deceased.
Unofficially, six homicides were recorded in Prince George in 2022.