The 28-year-old man who was shot to death at a house party on Christmas Eve two years ago was in the wrong place at the wrong time, homicide detectives said Monday as they announced  a second-degree murder charge in his death.

Bradley McPherson was killed inside a home in the Newton neighbourhood of Surrey on Dec. 24, 2011.

Integrated Homicide Investigation Team Sgt. Jennifer Pound said the young man was the victim of unfortunate circumstances and had no criminal history.

McPherson’s mother, Susan Simning, told the press that her son’s death has been “her worst nightmare” and her life was forever changed when two of her son’s friends broke the news that he had been fatally shot just a day before Christmas.

“My screams of anguish and sobs were heard by Brad’s younger sister and she came running from her room to be told her brother was dead,” Simning said, adding that friends and family endured “hours of hell” waiting for confirmation from police that he was actually dead.

“I was not allowed to see him to go to his side to say goodbye because it now became a murder investigation. The loss of our beloved Bradley has broken our family,” she said.

“He was the link that held us all together.”

Simning described her son as a natural protector who watched over his family and made sure people showed respect. Growing up with his mother and sisters, McPherson learned early to be respectful to women, Simning said, something she believes lead to his murder.

“He stood up to a bully who was disrespecting a number of individuals at the party he attended. And for that his life was taken,” she said.

Russell Bidesi charged with second-degree murder on April 6.

The 22-year-old had been in police custody since Feb. 28 on a separate second-degree murder charge for allegedly killing Surrey resident Kacey Rogers. Investigators say there is no connection between the incidents.

IHIT Supt. Kevin Hackett said the charges signal an end to an intense investigation that spanned 15 months.

"To suggest that today's announcement brings happiness would be wrong; no charges will ever be able to bring Bradley back to his family,” Hackett said.

Siming echoed that sentiment: "Brad always wanted to protect people," she said. "He loved his family."

Bidesi will be held in custody until his next court appearance.