The RCMP have identified 22-year-old Jesse (Delmer) Frank of Williams Lake as the city’s first murder victim of 2015.
Frank’s body was discovered on the ice under the Rudy Johnson Bridge Friday, Jan. 2.
Frank was a member of the Anaham First Nation, however, he grew up in Williams Lake, Anaham Chief Joe Alphonse told the Tribune.
Alphonse is urging the people responsible for the murder to own up to the crime, adding no one wants violence in their communities.
“We want our young people to grow up independent and proud.”
While they are not releasing the cause of death, the RCMP said Friday they are investigating the incident as a targeted homicide and are asking the public for information to come up with a timeline, leading up to the time they received the report of Frank’s body at 2:17 p.m.
Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb said any murder is a tragedy, especially of someone so young.
“I understand unfortunately it was a targeted incident and the public isn’t at risk, but I urge anyone with information to contact the police or Crimestoppers,” Cobb said. “We can hope that whoever is responsible will be caught and punished.”
Last Friday community and family members held a private drumming ceremony for Frank on the Rudy Johnson Bridge.
His funeral was held Tuesday in Anaham and on Wednesday in Williams Lake.
“It’s a hard time for the family,” Alphonse said.
“They appreciate that most people have respected their privacy. The family and community have also received a lot of support from outlying communities.”
Frank’s death and the double homicide in Anahim Lake on Boxing Day have made for a difficult holiday season, Alphonse said.
“It really puts this issue of violence on the forefront for us. It’s an issue that we have to deal with and it’s going to require everyone’s involvement, not just leadership.”
First Nations youth have to be given the tools needed to stay away from violent activity, he added.
“Drugs are a problem too. They create big city problems in small towns.”