Teen charged with second-degree murder in connection with 2015 Burnaby homicide

A 19-year-old Burnaby man is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of a man in April 2015.

The man’s body was found in the street near Moscrop and west of Smith Avenue in Burnaby just before 3 a.m. on April 16, 2015.

The victim was identified as 34-year-old Elmer Libertino and police believe he travelled from Surrey by public transit to the area of Kingsway and Boundary between 2 and 3 a.m.

Libertino, who was a husband and father of three, had no criminal record or contact with police and the motive for his death has been a mystery. His murder left Libertino’s grieving family with several questions about what happened to their loved one.

According to IHIT Sgt. Meghan Foster, 19-year-old Jordan Braun has now been charged with second-degree murder. Braun is known to police and had been previously charged with four counts of break and enter.

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Foster said after reviewing the evidence, there was nothing to suggest Libertino and Braun knew one another.

Shortly after the incident, police began asking members of an online geo-tagging community to help with their investigation.

Libertino’s family said in a written statement their “hearts are irreparably broken, and our lives are forever altered for his untimely and tragic loss. He came to Canada with a great dream for himself, for his loving wife, and for his three smart and beautiful kids, but he was taken away so soon… he is dearly missed every day.”

Braun is currently in custody and his next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 30.