Two men charged with 2nd degree murder following 2011 Blind Bay homicide
By Contributor
BC RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit announced Monday (June 16) during a press conference in Kelowna that two men have now been arrested and charged in connection with the 2011 Blind Bay homicide of 24-year-old Nicholas (Nick) Cole Larsen.
Larsen was found shortly after midnight on June 1 of 2011 after members of the Salmon Arm RCMP Detachment responded to reports of shots fired in the lakeside community of Blind Bay, located approximately 20 kilometres West of Salmon Arm.
Nearby residents in this lakeside community heard the shots and observed two vehicles leaving the shooting scene on Blind Bay Road at high rates of speed.
“The Southeast District Major Crime Unit led the investigation which determined that 24-year-old Nick Larsen from Sorrento, BC was shot while travelling in a friend’s vehicle in what appeared to be a targeted attack,” says Inspector Terry Kohlhauser, RCMP Southeast District Senior Investigating Officer.
“SED Major Crime investigators along with the Salmon Arm RCMP Detachment conducted an extensive, thorough investigation to determine who was involved and why.”
The investigation determined that there had been a dispute in Sorrento between two groups of men a couple of hours before the shooting. The vehicle in which Larsen was riding was forced off the road by another vehicle while travelling on Blind Bay Road.
An occupant of the suspect vehicle then opened fire and multiple bullets riddled the vehicle in which Larsen was riding.
Larsen was hit several times and he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter on a nearby friend’s property.
The small community of Blind Bay was shocked by this incident in what is normally a quiet and peaceful resort community. Larsen is from a family which has been long-time residents of the nearby community of Sorrento.
As a result, the investigation has led to the arrests of two individuals in connection with this homicide.
Jeremy Wayne Davis, 24, of Williams Lake arrested on June 12 in Williams Lake and Jordan Larry Barnes, 27, of Mission was arrested on June 13 in Kelowna without incident.
Both have been charged with one count each of 2nd Degree Murder. A judicially authorized search of the Davis residence was conducted following his arrest.
Davis is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday June 16, 2014 in Kamloops Court and Barnes is also scheduled to appear on Monday June 16 in Kelowna Court to answer to the charges.
