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B.C. man wanted for killing of gangster in Thailand dies in Ontario plane crash

Gene Lahrkamp – one of Canada’s most-wanted fugitives – is 1 of 4 who died April 30
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Gene Lahrkamp of Trail, a fugitive who was wanted for the killing of Abbotsford gangster Jimi Sandhu in Thailand, was killed in a plane crash April 30 in Ontario.

A man who was No. 2 on the list of Canada’s 25 most-wanted fugitives in relation to the killing of an Abbotsford gangster in Thailand has died in a plane crash in Ontario, police have confirmed.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit said in a statement on Tuesday (May 3) that Gene Karl Lahrkamp of Trail, B.C. was one of four people who died when a small plane crashed Saturday (April 30) near Sioux Lookout in northwestern Ontario.

Lahrkamp, 36, was wanted in relation to the shooting death of Jimi Sandhu, 32, at a beachside resort in Rawai, Phuket on Feb. 5.

RELATED: Suspect in killing of Abbotsford gangster is 1 of 2 B.C. men on Canada’s Most Wanted list

RELATED: Two men wanted in killing of former Abbotsford gangster in Thailand

His co-accused, Matthew Leandre Ovide Dupre, was arrested Feb. 20 in Edmonton and remains in custody, awaiting possible extradition.

Both Lahrkamp and Dupre are former members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Crime Stoppers’ Be on the Lookout program announced April 26 that a $100,000 reward was being offered for information leading to Lahrkamp’s arrest.

Media reports from Ontario indicate that the wreckage of the Piper PA-28 Cherokee plane was found by authorities on Saturday after the aircraft was overdue to land.

The plane was travelling between the towns of Dryden and Marathon, according to the reports.

The crash site is about 450 kilometres east of Winnipeg.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is now investigating, and no further details have been released.



vhopes@abbynews.com

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Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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