A pastor’s son shot dead at an illegal marijuana grow-operation in Langley, B.C., earlier this year made a bad decision that ultimately cost him his life, say homicide investigators.
Taylor Johnson, 21, was found fatally shot at a rural property in February.
The young man was staying at and taking care for the property near Campbell Valley Regional Park, southeast of Vancouver, and did not have a criminal record.
At a press conference Thursday morning to announce an arrest in the case, investigators described Johnson as “naïve, good kid" and largely unaware of the dangers of being associated with the grow-op – which they believe was his killer’s motivation.
Sgt. Jennifer Pound of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team choked back tears as she announced charges in the young man’s death.
“This shooting was a random senseless act that has left a family devastated and a community asking, why Taylor?” she said.
Jesse River Hill, 23, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder with a firearm, break and enter with intent, disguise with intent and discharge of a firearm with intent.
Detectives believe Hill and Johnson didn’t know each other.
Johnson’s family moved to B.C. from Arizona in 2007, when his father became the head pastor at the South Delta Baptist Church.
Speaking to reporters, Johnson’s stepmother Wendy said his death “has changed everything “ in their family’s life.
“From the first moment we walked into a restaurant and had to say ‘table for seven’ instead of ‘table for eight.’ It is an open wound that is very raw,” she said.
Johnson’s father Paul said he still feels angry and confused.
“But we hope that these people will use this event to change the course of their lives, and get right with God,” he said.
His parents maintain their son didn't know there was a grow-op in the house.
With files from CTV British Columbia’s Nafeesa Karim
