A man already serving a life sentence for a fatal restaurant shooting in Richmond has been handed an additional decade behind bars for a separate attempted murder, a crime he confessed to in an unusual manner.
Life Sentence for Murder, Plus Ten More Years
Richard Charles Reed is currently incarcerated for the first-degree murder of Jian Jun Zhu. That crime occurred during a shooting outside the Manzo restaurant in Richmond, British Columbia, in September 2020. Reed was convicted and received a life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years for that homicide.
A Confession in Verse
The new 10-year sentence, announced on December 06, 2025, stems from a different violent incident. Authorities say Reed confessed his involvement in an attempted murder by recording a rap song. The lyrics of the song detailed the crime, providing investigators with a direct, self-incriminating account of the events.
This unconventional confession became a key piece of evidence in the case. The court found the details in the rap to be credible and specific enough to secure a conviction for the attempted murder charge, leading to the consecutive sentence.
Legal Ramifications of an Unusual Admission
The judge's decision to impose a consecutive 10-year term means it will be served after Reed's life sentence for the murder of Jian Jun Zhu. This ensures additional accountability for the separate act of violence.
Legal experts note that while confessions can come in many forms, a musical admission is rare. The case underscores that any voluntary statement detailing a crime, regardless of its format, can have serious legal consequences. The sentence reinforces that each criminal act will be judged and penalized separately, even when the perpetrator is already facing a lengthy prison term for another offence.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), which led the probe into the 2020 restaurant murder, was also involved in the investigation that led to the attempted murder charge.
