Mysterious plane crash killed 2 suspected hitmen linked to gangs in Alberta, B.C.
CBC
One of the two fugitives killed in a mysterious plane crash in Ontario is a former Calgary gangster with a long criminal history, including crimes of "extensive violence," according to the Parole Board of Canada.
On Saturday, four men, including two pilots, died after a four-seat Piper PA 28-140 crashed in a forested area near Sioux Lookout, Ont.
Two of the men were wanted on gang murder charges, including Duncan Bailey, 37, who, court records show, has a long history of drug trafficking and organized crime-related offences in both Alberta and B.C.
He once served a 10-year sentence for kidnapping and aggravated assault convictions in Calgary.
At the time of his death, Bailey was awaiting trial for the attempted murder of Mir Hussain, who was shot in 2020 as he left a Vancouver pub while carrying a baby in a car seat.
The second man wanted on warrants was Gene Karl Lahrkamp, a suspected international hitman and former Canadian military member who was accused of executing a former high-level B.C. gangster in Thailand.
Until his death on Saturday, there was a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Lahrkamp, who was the No. 2 most wanted man in Canada.
It's not yet clear how or why Bailey and Lahrkamp ended up on the small, private plane together.
But the two did have connections with organized crime groups in B.C. that are affiliated with each other.
According to court documents, Bailey had ties to the Independent Soldiers, which is connected to the B.C. and Red Deer-based Red Scorpion gang.
Lahrkamp was charged with murdering Jimi Sandhu, who was once charged with killing a high-level member of the Red Scorpions.
Sandhu, who was killed in February, was connected to the United Nations (UN) gang, which is a staunch rival of the Red Scorpions.
The UN and Red Scorpions have been involved in a violent struggle for control of the B.C. Lower Mainland's illegal drug trade.
B.C.'s anti-gang unit is investigating the connections between the two men, which could help explain why they were on the same airplane.