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City man charged in Kamloops murder

Mounties have arrested a former Salmon Arm resident in connection with a March 2011 murder
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Scene: Paramedics attempted to save the life of Archie LePretre after he was stabbed in Kamloops. He later died of his injuries.

Mounties have arrested a former Salmon Arm resident in connection with a March 2011 murder that took place in the basketball court of Stuart Wood Elementary School in downtown Kamloops.

Travis Johnny, 24, has been charged with murder in the death of Archie LePretre on March 22, 2011.

LePretre and his cousin were attacked by three men about 4:30 p.m. that day while playing basketball outside the school.

The 23-year-old Vancouver resident was visiting family in Kamloops when he was killed.

At the time of the murder, Kamloops RCMP said a gang dispute was at the centre of the attack, which involved three men wearing bandanas over their faces attacking with knives and a baseball bat.

Kamloops RCMP Staff Sgt. Cheryl Bush said it appears the pair were “targeted” by rival gang members because of their ties to a Lower Mainland gang.

Police would not discuss details of Johhny’s arrest, or the investigation which led to it, except to say it had been “extensive.”

“These cases are never closed,” said Bush. “It takes a lot of determination to just keep plugging away at them until we get to where we are today.”

Johnny’s arrest was one of three made in connection with LePretre’s murder by the Kamloops Serious Crime Unit on Friday, Dec. 6. Bush said two other Kamloops men arrested at the time have since been let go, though their role in the death is still being investigated.

Johnny is set to appear in court Thursday, Dec. 12. It’s yet to be determined whether he’ll face charges of first- or second-degree murder.

LePretre’s family has denied he was involved in the gang lifestyle. He graduated from business school in June 2010.