Homicide investigators identify Richmond father who was killed with 13-year-old son
Homicide investigators have identified a father who was killed in his home with his 13-year-old son in Richmond on Nov. 30 – and say an image of a suspect was captured by a surveillance camera.
Forty-six-year-old Derrek Chen was one of the two people slain in the residence on Goldsmith Drive, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team revealed at a news conference Friday. The identity of his son is not being released "out of respect for him as a minor," spokesperson Sgt. Timothy Pierotti said. The father and son were the only people at home at the time.
"There's a family right now that's going through the unimaginable, that have suffered such a loss," Pierotti said.
"We're still working to identify a motive. We're asking anyone who may know Mr. Chen to contact us if they can provide us any insight on who would want to do this to a 46-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy. If you know of some reason that they might be hurt, please contact us," he added.
Authorities say the killings were not random and that there is not believed to be any risk to public safety.
"We believe that someone entered that residence with the intention of hurting somebody," Pierotti said.
"Now, determining exactly who that was who went to that residence, who they were intending to hurt to what extent they were looking to hurt someone – that's an investigation that we're actively working on now," he explained.
A suspect was caught on surveillance video near the home at 8:40 p.m., Pierotti said, describing the person as wearing a dark coat, white hat, "balaclava-style" face mask and jeans.
IHIT shared an image of the suspect, noting at the news conference that it is so grainy that police can’t yet say say if the suspect is a man or a woman.
The suspect fled on foot into London Fields Park, a large park with a playground and multiple sports fields that has a number of entry and exit points.
While police say they have canvassed the neighbourhood for witnesses and CCTV, they are appealing to people who don’t live in the area but who were visiting the park
"We need to speak with absolutely everybody," Pierotti said.
Anyone who was in the park between 8:30 and 9 p.m. on Nov. 30 – whether they saw something or not – is urged to contact police. Anyone else who has information is also asked to contact investigators at 877-551-4448.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.