A coroner’s inquest into the deaths of a Prince Rupert family in 2023 has heard that the father, Christopher Duong, feared that a ‘hit’ had been placed on him.
RCMP Const. Jason Kettle testified that he became privy to this information after investigating an abandoned vehicle blocking the intersection of Portage Road and Saskatoon Avenue on June 10, 2023.
Kettle determined that the white Mercedes — in which he discovered multiple bags and suitcases, a large amount of cash, and a bear banger — belonged to Duong’s wife, Janet Nguyen.
“Mrs. Nguyen informed me that she wanted to retrieve some items from the SUV, and that she was fearful because multiple vehicles were currently following them around town,” Kettle said.
“She didn’t want to provide me any more information on it because she didn’t think she could trust the police with the information.”
Kettle then interviewed Duong, who was also initially unwilling to share any information, but eventually told the officer that he believed a hit had been placed on him.
“He believed that his family was being targeted or would be targeted,” Kettle recalled. “Speaking to other officers, my understanding is that it was believed he was involved in the drug trade in Prince Rupert.”
On June 13, 2023, Duong, Nguyen, and their two children, Alexander and Harlan Duong, were found dead in their home on Silverside Drive.
At the time of their deaths, Nguyen was 35-years-old, Christopher was 38, Alexander was four, and Harlan was two. The RCMP’s major crimes unit launched a homicide probe and stated that there was no threat to the general public.
The inquest started at 9:30 a.m. this morning (Feb. 2) at the Burnaby Coroner’s Court after delays due to the British Columbia General Employees’ Union and Professional Employees Association strike last fall.
Kettle, along with RCMP officer Jordan Kealty; Janet’s sister, Joanne Nguyen; and Dr. Jennifer Yao, a physician who had previously treated Christopher after an earlier motor vehicle incident, all shared their testimony via video during the first morning of the inquest.
The inquest is a non-fault-finding public inquiry that helps determine the facts relating to a death, such as the identity of the deceased and how, when, where, and by what means the individual came to their death.
The inquest is scheduled to take place until Feb. 20 and will include testimony from multiple witnesses each day, including other doctors and other RCMP officers.
More to come