A man has been found guilty of second degree murder in connection to the death of a 20-year-old New Westminster man in lower Hume Park in the spring of 2019.
Around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2019, the New Westminster Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the 600 block of East Columbia Street. After finding a victim who had died from apparent gunshot wounds, police located a suspect a short distance away and took him into custody.
On Dec. 13, Sam Jafroudi was found guilty of second degree murder. He remained in custody for a Jan. 6 (today) court appearance, at which time a sentencing date will be scheduled.
“Members of the NWPD and IHIT worked together to ensure Crown counsel had the necessary information to obtain a conviction in this trial,” NWPD Chief Constable Dave Jansen said in a news release. “I am hopeful that the victim’s family can find some closure now that Mr. Jafroudi has been found guilty.”
At the time of the shooting, the NWPD called in officers from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team to assist with the investigation. Police said the shooting was not a random incident and noted that the victim and the suspect knew each other.
Following the shooting, police identified the victim as Robel Kinfe Abera, a 20-year-old New Westminster resident.
Family and friends remembered Abera as a caring, loving and compassionate individual.
“Robel was such an amazing person to everyone he knew,” wrote Lexi Agen on a GoFundMe page. “He made it so easy to love him and to want to be a part of his life. He made such an impact on who I am, and I will be forever grateful that I was lucky enough to have known him and loved him.”
A GoFundMe page created to help Abera’s family pay for his funeral and burial raised $13,011.
“Robel Abera was a son, brother, and friend whose life was taken away on April 27th, 2019, the night of Orthodox Easter,” said the GoFundMe page. “Robel was the most genuine, funny, and caring individual. He had an infectious personality which made him very easy to love.”
With Record files
