The close friend of a former gangster gunned down in Port Moody this week is defending Randy Naicker.
The friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke with CKNW’s Simi Sara about the 34-year-old founder of the Independent Soldiers gang who spent time behind bars for kidnapping.
“I’m sure it was a struggle. I’m sure there was stress starting a new life and anybody who comes out of prison and you want to change your life over.
“He was making a real effort at it. He wanted to fall in love. He wanted to have a family. He wanted to live a quiet life and, unfortunately, I guess the sins of his past caught up to him.”
Naicker’s murder is Port Moody’s second targeted hit in the past month, but Mayor Mike Clay denies his city is any less safe.
“Everybody in port moody needs to know that we remain probably the safest community in BC and we have a police presence here and people that are really part of this community and really care about protecting everybody.”
On May 31, Bin Toor, a member of the Dhak-Duhre gang was fatally shot outside the Port Moody Recreation Centre.