CHARGES have been laid in the shooting in Chilliwack on Sunday, February 15.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) announced on Friday that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of second-degree murder against 50-year-old Jason Himpfen, 34-year-old Zoltan Losier, and 40-year-old Christopher Meischl for the homicide of Kristopher Benson.
The three accused have also been charged with one count of attempt murder in relation to the second victim.
On February 15 at approximately 8:40 a.m., Chilliwack RCMP responded to a report of a shooting inside a residence on Mellard Avenue in Chilliwack. Officers located two men inside the residence suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving measures, one of the men died on scene. The other man was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) assumed conduct of the investigation and worked in close partnership with the Chilliwack RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services (IFIS), and the BC Coroners Service.
On the evening of February 18, IHIT investigators, with assistance from the Lower Mainland District Integrated Emergency Response Team (LMD IERT), arrested one man in Chilliwack and a second man at a residence in Abbotsford in relation to the shooting.
On the afternoon of February 19, a third man was arrested by IHIT and LMD IERT members at a residence in Chilliwack.
“This was a fast-paced investigation and some sleepless nights for our investigators,” says Sgt. Freda Fong of IHIT. “The team worked tirelessly to follow up on the evidence as the case unfolded, which led to the prompt laying of charges. We would like to thank our policing partners who supported us over the past several days to effect the swift and safe arrests of the individuals involved.”
