Police say a Langley, B.C., man facing first-degree murder charges for a fatal stabbing, is also responsible for the vicious beating of a Red Scorpions gang associate.
Albert Jacob Jackman, 22, is one of two men, who have been charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of an Abbotsford man, who was fatally stabbed outside a home on Fraser Highway on March 28.
Jackman also faces separate assault charges in connection to a March 8 attack where a 27-year-old man was hit repeatedly with a sledgehammer.
The victim of the attack -- which occurred at a residence in the 2100 block of 86 Avenue in Langley -- is a known Red Scorpions/Bacon Brothers associate, police said.
Also charged with assault in connection with that incident is 22-year-old old Wesley Edward Kelemen of Langley
BC Integrated Gang Task Force spokesman Sgt. Shinder Kirk said at the time that a subsequent investigation had determined that Jackman and Kelemen were known associates of the Red Scorpions and Bacon Brothers.
Commenting on the arrests, Supt. Dan Malo, the officer in charge of the BC Integrated gang Task Force, said the arrest of Jackman and Kelemen highlight the collaborative efforts of police across the province in addressing the issue of gangs and gang violence.
"More importantly, they underscore what we have frequently said about individuals associated to gangs, they are allies one minute and enemies the next."
These charges follow recent reports that gang violence is spreading from Vancouver into the B.C. Interior. The RCMP has said there were 138 murders in the province last year. Of that amount, 55 were tied to organized crime or gangs. There have been 34 killings so far this year up to March 27, with 13 of the victims having confirmed organized-crime ties, police say.
