Andrew Jonathon BELCOURT, 19 years of age, remains in custody and is charged with Murder, Break and Enter with Intent to Commit Robbery and Possession of a Firearm Dangerous to the Public.

On March 3 just after 12:30 a.m. VicPD responded to the report of a man carrying a gun in the 1200 block of Pembroke. As officers were arriving further calls were received that shots had been fired.

Members arrived at an apartment at 1260 Pembroke and found 52 year old Leslie Ronald HANKEL had been shot and fatally wounded.

Several officers including K9 converged on the area but did not locate any suspects.

Over two dozen investigators from Victoria Police’s Major Crime Section, the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit, Forensic Ident and Strike Force worked around the clock gathering evidence and interviewing several witnesses and at around 6:30 p.m. with the assistance of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team, three men were taken into custody and a firearm was recovered.

The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to please contact the Tip Line at (250) 995-7444 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or on-line at www.victoriacrimestoppers.com.

Mr. BELCOURT is next scheduled to appear on March 8.