A 33-year-old Surrey man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection to the Jan. 2 homicide at a strip mall on Scott Road in Surrey.
Michael James Petronio will be appearing in Surrey provincial court later Friday afternoon to face the charge.
Surrey RCMP responded to an altercation at the strip mall in the area around 75A Ave. just before 1 a.m. on Jan. 2 where officers found a deceased male lying in the parking lot.
A witness to the altercation followed the suspect from a safe distance as he fled, and directed police to his location a few blocks away. Officers quickly arrested him, and located a weapon possibly used in the murder.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was called in to investigate, and worked closely with the Surrey RCMP, the witnesses to the altercation, and the various business owners in the area.
“This success was a combined effort between the people who witnessed the altercation, the Lower Mainland Forensic Identification Services, the Surrey RCMP, and IHIT,” said Const. Harrison Mohr with IHIT. “This could not have been accomplished without the cooperation of the witnesses, the expertise of the forensic specialists, and the professionalism demonstrated by Surrey RCMP officers.
“We would also like to thank the business owners and community members in the area, who provided us with key surveillance video footage, and waited patiently while the mall was closed during our initial investigation. This was a prime example of the success that can happen when police and the community work together.”
IHIT is now confirming that the victim has been identified as 39-year-old Jason Stanley Wells.
Mohr said investigators believe that Wells was residing in Surrey.
“Our attention must turn now to the victim, his family, and his friends and associates,” added Mohr. “Our thoughts are with those who knew him. We are asking them to come forward and talk to us. Our investigators would like to speak with anyone whom had been in recent contact with Jason.”
Anyone who knew Jason can call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551- IHIT (4448), or email [email protected].
