Maple Ridge Shooter Receives 15-Year Prison Sentence for 2024 Fatal Incident
A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a fatal shooting that occurred in Maple Ridge nearly two years ago. Alexander Delair of Maple Ridge was handed the sentence last week in connection with the killing and an unrelated robbery.
Details of the 2024 Shooting Incident
On the afternoon of May 31, 2024, Ridge Meadows RCMP responded to reports of a shooting in the area of 223rd Street and Lougheed Highway. Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim who was declared dead at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing a male suspect fleeing the area immediately after the incident.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) assumed control of the case and conducted an extensive investigation. In August 2024, investigators arrested Alexander Delair and charged him with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
The following year, Delair pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. Last week, he was formally sentenced for both the manslaughter conviction and an unrelated robbery. The court imposed a 15-year prison term, with credit given for the nearly two years Delair has already spent in custody since his arrest.
With this credit applied, Delair will serve an additional 12½ years in prison. The sentencing judge also issued several additional orders, including:
- A lifetime firearms prohibition
- DNA collection orders
- Forfeiture orders related to the case
Impact on the Victim's Family and Community
The victim, whose name has not been publicly released, was 34 years old at the time of his death. Sergeant Freda Fong of IHIT commented on the sentencing, stating, "The victim was only 34 years old when his life was taken away due to a senseless act of violence. While the sentencing does not change that fact, we hope it represents a step forward in the healing process for his loved ones."
The case highlights the ongoing challenges of violent crime in communities across British Columbia and the lengthy judicial process that follows such incidents. The sentencing brings some closure to a case that has been under investigation for nearly two years since the fatal shooting occurred in Maple Ridge.
Delair's guilty plea to manslaughter rather than proceeding with a murder trial likely influenced the sentencing outcome, though the 15-year term represents a significant prison sentence for the offence. The additional robbery conviction contributed to the overall sentencing determination.
