B.C. Baldwin brothers killed weeks apart
Credit to Author: Randy Shore| Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2019 18:10:49 +0000
A pair of brothers have been killed in apparently targeted attacks just weeks apart.
Keith Baldwin, 27, was found by the side of Yale Road in Chilliwack on Oct. 22 with a serious gunshot wound to the head and died later in hospital.
Then on Monday, Nov. 11, his brother, Andrew Baldwin, 30, was killed inside a home in Surrey.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is probing both deaths but without progress to date. Neither attack is considered random and it isn’t clear if either or both are gang-related.
“I can confirm they were brothers,” said IHIT Sgt. Frank Jang. “We’re still trying to establish if the two incidents are linked.”
Friends and relatives are reluctant to talk about the cases or to have their names used, especially after the second shooting.
“There is a dark underworld we have allowed to take hold,” said pastor Jim Toohey, who was acting as a mentor to Keith in his recovery from substance abuse. “These crimes have snuffed out a lot of potential.”
Keith had entered a recovery program at Adult & Teen Challenge of B.C. earlier this year.
“It’s a very demanding faith-based program; that’s why it’s called a challenge,” he said. “Aspects of it were working and I know from talking with him on the phone that there was more Keith there than before. All his faculties were coming back. It definitely was working.”
Unfortunately, he left the program early and relapsed.
“I think he was emotionally exhausted,” said Toohey. “During that time away, aspects of his former life resurfaced and drew him in.”
Andrew Baldwin was attacked and killed in Surrey on Nov. 11.
Both brothers are known to police, but in Keith’s case he hadn’t had a run-in with the law since 2011.
Keith is remembered as a generous man and a musician.
“He was a deeply caring guy, someone who was very thoughtful and considerate of others, with a very sensitive heart,” Toohey said.
IHIT is still trying to piece together what happened in Keith’s final hours, and now those of his older brother, too.
“Our investigators have been busy determining Keith Baldwin’s activities leading up to his death,” said Jang.
Surrey RCMP responded to a call late Monday afternoon and found Andrew Baldwin unresponsive.
A police dog was brought in to conduct a search for a suspect last spotted headed north on 124th Street wearing a dark-coloured hoodie and dark sweatpants. The suspect may have suffered injuries during the altercation.
IHIT is working closely with the Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services and the B.C. Coroners Service to gather more evidence.
“We urge anyone with details of Andrew Baldwin’s activities before his unfortunate death to come forward and speak to investigators,” said Jang. “We also urge any witnesses and drivers with dash-cam video who were in the area of Old Yale and Scott Road to contact us, so we can ultimately determine those responsible.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-4448 or by email to ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Adult & Teen Challenge is accepting donations in memory of Keith Baldwin and a GoFundMe page is collecting donations for Keith’s wife.
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