Three men sentenced today for the murder of Red Scorpians' gang member Jonathan Bacon

In 2011, a shooting at the Grand Hotel and Resort in Kelowna shook the community, and represents one of the province's most brazen acts of gang violence.

On August 14 of that year, a Red Scorpions’ gang member, Jonathan Bacon, along with four other associates, Larry Amero, James Riach, Lyndsey Black, and Leah Hadden-Watts were the subjects of a targeted shooting.

Bacon was killed in the shooting outside the hotel. The three accused were convicted and sentenced today in Kelowna Supreme Court after entering a guilty plea, six and a half years later.

An 18-month investigation into the murder of Bacon was named Project E-Nitrogen, led by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) and the Kelowna RCMP resulted in the arrest of three men in 2013. Today they held a press conference outside the Kelowna Law Courts announcing the end of the case.

“Today will hopefully bring some comfort to the community and all of those adversely impacted by the violence that took place on that summer day in 2011. It should also serve as a reminder to those involved in perpetrating gang violence that we will be relentless and resolute as we help bring those individuals who threaten our communities with gun violence to account,” said Assistant Commissioner Kevin Hackett, the Chief Officer of the CFSEU-BC.

Jujhar Khun-Khun, age 25, Michael Kerry Hunter Jones, age 25, and Jason Thomas McBride, age 37, were originally charged with the first degree murder of Jonathan Bacon on Feb. 23, 2013, along with an additional four counts of attempted murder each.

On April 19, 2018 all three had their charges amended by BC Prosecution Services. The new indictment was before the BC Supreme Court in Kelowna on April 20, 2018 for a first appearance, and was adjourned to May 1, 2018.

McBride plead guilty to second degree murder and attempt to commit murder of four individuals. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole eligibility for 18 years. He will also serve a concurrent 15 year sentence for the attempted murders. He will receive credit for time served in pre-trial custody.

Both Jones and Khun-Khun plead guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, and were sentenced to 18 years. They did receive credit for time served in pre-trial custody, and were sentenced to 10 years.

“When these types of violent crimes occur in our towns and cities it can have a dramatic impact on the people who live, work and visit them,” says Supt. Brent Mundle, Officer in Charge of the Kelowna RCMP. “Today’s convictions and sentencing is a testament to the hard work of investigators from multiple police agencies to hold those responsible accountable, and to protect the communities we serve.”