Murder suspect Barry McQuarrie was caught on security camera using a pay phone to call CTV News on Sunday, and homicide detectives have released still pictures to drum up more tips.
McQuarrie, whose alias is “Bad Ass Barry,” was seen wearing jeans, a blue shirt, sunglasses and a blue cap, according to the two photographs taken at the Thunderbird Show Park.
“We believe these photos were taken when he called the media,” said Sgt. Adam Macintosh of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old suspect has been on the lam since Gregory Quesnelle was gunned down at his home in Cloverdale on May 12. Investigators believe McQuarrie remains in the Lower Mainland and warn he is still considered armed and dangerous.
McQuarrie called CTV News to claim that he wasn’t the murderer and that he isn’t as dangerous as police are saying.
“I want to let the public know I’m not armed and dangerous, and let the police know that,” he said. “They can shoot me but they’re shooting an unarmed man.”
McQuarrie said Quesnelle was dating his ex-girlfriend, and that the two men had been in a fight days before the killing.
“I had a problem with him about a week ago. I didn’t go back and kill him,” McQuarrie said Sunday.
The pay phone is located within a barn on the Thunderbird Show Park grounds. Thunderbird’s president told CTV News off camera that police were there on Sunday morning, before the call, because of another call McQuarrie made to them on Saturday night.
Police said they didn’t receive a call, but didn’t rule out that McQuarrie had called someone from the show park that night.
“We’re looking into information that he had been in that location before,” said Macintosh.
Thunderbird Show Park has now increased security, a spokesperson said.
Criminologist Rob Gordon says McQuarrie’s decision to appear in public at a horse facility preparing for a major tournament is a sign he’s not worried that he’ll be caught.
“It would surprise me that he would choose that location. I don’t know what that signals except to say he’s supremely confident he won’t get caught,” Gordon said.
McQuarrie’s alias, “Bad Ass Barry,” is listed in court records. On Facebook he shows off tattoos, muscles, and a car, and says his religious views are “F*** the police.” An earlier post describes an old relationship as “it’s complicated.”
An RCMP sweep of several Langley neighbourhoods last night didn’t find McQuarrie.
Macintosh said he believes that McQuarrie is aware of the publicity and asked him to turn himself in peacefully.
McQuarrie hasn’t been charged in Quesnelle’s death but is wanted on a series of unrelated warrants.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-4448, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 if they wish to remain anonymous.