Pubdate: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Abbotsford News Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/BkAJKrUD Website: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake