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Global News
6 hours ago
- Global News
‘Didn't see it coming': Suspect identified in deadly Maple Ridge neighbour dispute
As RCMP and B.C.'s police watchdog investigate the recent tragic chain of events in Maple Ridge, those who knew the man suspected of breaking into his neighbours' home, setting their vehicles on fire and killing them before taking his own life, describe him as a good family man and a very kind person. Across the street from a community memorial outside the home of retirees Bruce Richards and Roxanne Davidson, a handful of bouquets of flowers are set up on the lawn of Trevor Hillman's residence near Dewdney Trunk Road and 240 Street. Dianne Hammer often visits her son and his family in the neighbourhood where she used to live, and said Hillman was very kind to her grandchildren. 2:05 Closer look at the aftermath of deadly neighbour dispute in Maple Ridge 'He loved my little grandkids, he gave them the displaced toys that theirs grew out of, and the kids really liked him a lot,' Hammer told Global News. Story continues below advertisement 'He was willing to talk to them anytime, he helped my grandson with his little dirt bike, things like that.' Hammer said her conversations with Hillman were always enjoyable, although she was aware he had been involved in a years-long feud with Richards and Davidson over parking and issues with the couple's dog on his property. 'I realize there was this issue going on between the two families,' said Hammer. 'To see such raw hatred, it seemed to me that it just really upset me to see it going back and forth.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy On July 23, around 6:40 p.m., police were called to the neighbourhood for a report of a dispute. RCMP said officers spoke to several people at the scene and left without making any arrests. 3:23 Maple Ridge homicide victims identified Just over four hours later, police returned to the same location following reports of a vehicle fire, break and enter, and shots fired. Story continues below advertisement According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), RCMP discovered two vehicles and an attached garage on fire. A dog and two people, later identified by neighbours as Richards and Davidson, were found deceased inside a home. The suspect, said IHIT, was believed to be armed with a weapon inside a neighbouring home, so police contained the residence. Around 2:10 a.m., RCMP entered the home with assistance from the Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team, and a man was found deceased inside from what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound. Neighbours have identified Hillman, who was married with grown children, as the suspect. 'I didn't see it coming,' said Hammer. 'It's sad that people's lives were taken over whatever the dispute was,' neighbour Tricia Darton told Global News. 3:44 3 dead in Maple Ridge neighbourhood dispute Darton said she often saw Hillman working in his yard or having a cigarette outside as she walked by, and didn't find him to be very talkative. Story continues below advertisement 'I don't want to say unfriendly, but not responsive,' Darton said. 'Seemed like he just wanted to be left alone.' Hammer said she never expected that such a tragedy would unfold. 'I know he didn't seem very happy,' Hammer said in an interview. 'I think he was stressed out, which we all are … but no indication that anything like that would happen.' Hammer said she spoke with Hillman's wife on Sunday. 'She's not doing well, but she knows that my son and family were supporting her and she appreciates that,' said Hammer. Richards and Davidson's home was boarded up on Sunday as the community attempts to heal amid many unanswered questions. 'You can't really judge right, because we don't know what people are going through, and you don't know what someone could be struggling with,' said Darton. Hillman was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, which represents 13,000 workers in B.C., including crane and heavy equipment operators. IUOE Local 115 did not respond to an interview request from Global News. 'He had a big heart,' recalled Hammer. Story continues below advertisement 'He was a kind man, and whatever happened to him was something out of control, and we won't know why it did.'
CTV News
8 hours ago
- CTV News
IHIT investigating after person found dead in vehicle in Popkum, B.C.
Homicide investigators have been called to B.C.'s Fraser Valley region after a person was found dead in a flaming vehicle Sunday evening. Mounties were called to a report of a vehicle fire in the 52100 block of Cheam Road in Popkum around 11:35 p.m., the RCMP said in a statement Monday. Police and firefighters attended and located a deceased person inside the vehicle. According to police, 'criminality is suspected.' The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has been deployed and will be conducting the investigation in collaboration with the Agassiz RCMP and Chilliwack RCMP. Investigators are asking anyone who may have dash camera video from the areas of Cheam Road and Bridal Falls Road, between 8 p.m on July 27 and 2 a.m. on July 28, to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-4448 or via email at ihitinfo@ The area surrounding the scene on Cheam Road will be cordoned off for 'a significant amount of time,' the statement said.
CBC
8 hours ago
- CBC
Foul play suspected after body found in burning vehicle in Popkum, B.C.
Social Sharing Homicide investigators are looking into the death of a person who was found after a vehicle fire in Popkum, B.C., late Sunday night. Police say they were called out around 11:35 p.m. PT on Sunday to the 52100-block of Cheam Road in Popkum, an area near Chilliwack close to cottage resorts and a water park. They say they found one person inside a vehicle which was on fire. Criminality is suspected, police say. Police have not released any details about the person's identity. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is now looking into the case, and they say investigators will be on the scene for a significant amount of time on Monday. Anyone with more information, including dashcam footage in the area of Cheam Road and Bridal Falls Road between 8 p.m. on Sunday and 2 a.m. on Monday, is asked to call police.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Dispute that left 3 dead in Maple Ridge, B.C., had been going on for years, neighbour says
Investigators were in a Maple Ridge, B.C., neighbourhood Friday morning as residents came to terms with a violent incident that claimed three lives Wednesday night. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says RCMP found two people — a man and woman in their 60s — and a dog dead inside a home on 239th Street. Officers found another body in a neighbouring residence. Neighbours have identified the dead couple as seniors Bruce and Roxanne Richards. Their son declined to comment after being reached by CBC News, and requested privacy for the family. IHIT said Thursday that investigators believe the incident was the "result of a dispute between neighbours who were known to each other." Bruce Fairweather said the dispute had "been going on for a number of years," and he was with Roxanne hours before the attack and saw the suspect threaten her. "She said something to him across the street, and he commented about breaking her neck," Fairweather said. Several residents who spoke to CBC News said the couple and their neighbour had been feuding over issues like street parking, backyard fires and the couple's dog. "She always had the dog on a long leash, and the dog would go up on his property, and he didn't want anyone or anything on his property," said Cheryl Cloutier. Ridge Meadows RCMP said officers were first called to the neighbourhood following a report of a dispute. They spoke with "several individuals" but didn't make any arrests. Hours later, just before 11 p.m., the Maple Ridge Fire Department reported a vehicle fire and a "break and enter in progress" at the same address. Neighbours say they saw cars on fire and rushed to help. "Kind of heroically, there were a number of neighbours [who] went to the front door," Fairweather said. "The front door had been smashed open, so right away they knew there was something going on." When officers arrived, they found two vehicles and the attached garage on fire, and two people dead inside the home. RCMP set up containment on neighbouring home Mounties said a person was "believed to be armed with a weapon" in a neighbouring home. They say police "set up containment," and with the help of the Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team, managed to enter that home — where they found another person dead. According to the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO), the third person died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. The IIO is investigating police actions in the incident. The civilian-led agency is called in anytime a police-involved incident results in death or serious harm in B.C. Residents say the events of Wednesday night have left them shaken. "They were just a good couple, nice to have as neighbours, and very engaging," Fairweather said. "So to see them both gone now, it's hard to fathom." Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Dsipute that left 3 dead in Maple Ridge, B.C., had been going on for years, neighbour says
Investigators were in a Maple Ridge, B.C., neighbourhood Friday morning as residents came to terms with a violent incident that claimed three lives Wednesday night. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says RCMP found two people — a man and woman in their 60s — and a dog dead inside a home on 239th Street. Officers found another body in a neighbouring residence. IHIT said Thursday that investigators believe the incident was the "result of a dispute between neighbours who were known to each other." Bruce Fairweather said the dispute had "been going on for a number of years," and he was with the female victim hours before the attack and saw the suspect threaten her. "She said something to him across the street, and he commented about breaking her neck," Fairweather said. Several residents who spoke to CBC News said the couple and their neighbour had been feuding over issues like street parking, backyard fires and the couple's dog. "She always had the dog on a long leash, and the dog would go up on his property, and he didn't want anyone or anything on his property," said Cheryl Cloutier. CBC News isn't identifying those involved pending notification of next of kin. Ridge Meadows RCMP said officers were first called to the neighbourhood following a report of a dispute. They spoke with "several individuals" but didn't make any arrests. Hours later, just before 11 p.m., the Maple Ridge Fire Department reported a vehicle fire and a "break and enter in progress" at the same address. Neighbours say they saw cars on fire and rushed to help. "Kind of heroically, there were a number of neighbours [who] went to the front door," Fairweather said. "The front door had been smashed open, so right away they knew there was something going on." When officers arrived, they found two vehicles and the attached garage on fire, and two people dead inside the home. RCMP set up containment on neighbouring home Mounties said a person was "believed to be armed with a weapon" in a neighbouring home. They say police "set up containment," and with the help of the Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team, managed to enter that home — where they found another person dead. According to the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO), the third person died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. The IIO is investigating police actions in the incident. The civilian-led agency is called in anytime a police-involved incident results in death or serious harm in B.C. Residents say the events of Wednesday night have left them shaken. "They were just a good couple, nice to have as neighbours, and very engaging," Fairweather said. "So to see them both gone now, it's hard to fathom."
