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By Jill Sperling

SERIOUS CRIMES

One year later, shooting deaths of Cody Mathieu and Rex Gill are top priority for Kamloops RCMP

Jan 28, 2020 | 4:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — It was a little more than one year ago that two men were killed outside of two separate Kamloops hotels within a span of two hours.

“I’ve been doing Serious Crime work for 15 years and never experienced two murders in that quick a succession anywhere I’ve been,” said Sgt. Nestor Baird with the Kamloops RCMP.

On January 23, 2019, 31-year-old Cody Mathieu of Kamloops was shot at the Super 8 Motel in Valleyview. Less than two hours later, 41-year-old Rex Gill of Penticton was shot outside the Comfort Inn and Suites In Aberdeen. Both died of their injuries.

The murders came during a tumultuous time in the city of Kamloops.

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“There was a lot of turmoil in the drug trade during that time, more so than usual,” Baird said. “So, it’s definitely tied to drug trade, yes.”

Gill, however, had no ties to the drug trade.

“That is the one thing that made this different than any of our other investigations here, is Rex Gill was a totally innocent person, essentially wrong place at the wrong time,” Baird said.

For Gill’s loved ones, the past year has been difficult. His friend Matthew Baran says Gill’s family wants answers.

“From the family’s perspective, and I’ve talked to them at length, they’re waiting for closure,” Baran said. “They’re waiting for some sense of finality to this issue. Obviously they’re also aware enough to know that as they get closer, and they suspect that the police are doing their job as they need to, that charges will be laid. They also know that it’s got to go to courts and then there’s got to be convictions, and sentencing.”

Baird says work continues on the case every single day.

“It is the top priority for our unit here in Serious Crimes,” he said. “So, there are investigators that work on that file on a daily basis here, which is currently being led by one of our most senior and most experienced investigators in Serious Crimes. It is the top priority for us right now.”

Evidence has been coming in slowly, but Baird believes there are still people withholding key information.

“Most people, I think, have good hearts at the end of the day, so I think they do realize that what happened with these two people, it’s not something that anybody condones no matter what walk of life they’re in. So, people who have information, we’re hoping that they’ll come forward and help us move this file along.”

If you have any information about either homicide, you’re asked to call Kamloops RCMP at (250) 828-3000 or if you’d like to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.