ABBOTSFORD MURDER VICTIMS HAVE GANG TIES

Police have identified the two young men found dead within 24 hours of
one another in different Abbotsford locations.

Ryan Alexander Richards, 19, of Abbotsford, was found sprawled in a
grassy field behind the Yellow Barn - a produce store on the
Abbotsford/Chilliwack border south of Highway 1 - at daybreak on
Tuesday morning.

Investigators say Richards was the victim of foul play, but have yet
to say how he died.

The second victim, Sean Patrick Murphy, aged 21 from Mission, was
found Monday evening, dead from gunshot wounds. He was behind the
wheel of a beige Toyota Camry on Bateman Road. Both young men were
known to police.

"We believe both homicides are not random, and there's a strong
possibility the victims' own criminal lifestyle led to their deaths,"
said Vinet.

"We suspect they were both involved at some level in organized
criminal activity. I am not in a position to elaborate on who they may
be associated to."

It's too early to tell if the two deaths are connected, but it's
something investigators are carefully considering, he said.

Richards, nicknamed "Whitey," was sentenced in June 2008 for assault
with a weapon. He was credited with 45 days jail time, and got a
year's probation and a firearms ban of five years.

He was still facing one count of drug possession and one count of
possession for the purpose of trafficking.

A court warrant had been issued for his arrest March
25.

Murphy was sentenced April 24, 2008 for one count of drug trafficking.
He got a nine-month conditional sentence and a 10-year ban on firearms.

Supt. Dan Malo, head of the B.C. Integrated Gang Task Force, said he
couldn't speak to the Abbotsford deaths. However, he said there are
two main trends in the spiral of gang violence in Metro Vancouver and
the Fraser Valley.

"The type of violence we're seeing comes in two different areas. There
are rival gangs in conflict and internal conflicts within the gangs
themselves," said Malo.

The disputes often surround dial-a-dope operations or the control of
drug lines.

Those wrapped up in the conflict and violence can range in age and
authority. Young people in their early teens may be distributing drugs
for organized crime groups, he said.