Suspect in 2014 Edmonton homicide charged following arrest for throwing rocks at cars on B.C. bridge

A man arrested by RCMP in B.C. last week has been charged in connection with a 2014 homicide that took place in Edmonton.

Richard Joseph Lacarte was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant in connection with the death of Demetrios Karahalios, 48, who was found dead inside an Oliver-area home on March 8, 2014.

On Thursday, Feb. 20, officers received multiple reports around 5:15 p.m. that a man was throwing rocks and other items at vehicles travelling on the Golden Ears Bridge in Maple Ridge, which connects Langley with the communities of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge in the greater Vancouver area.

An officer was able to restrain Lacarte, after he jumped over the sidewalk barrier and walked through moving traffic. The officer ran across three lanes of traffic, pushed Lacarte to safety and arrested him for mischief, according to police.

While in custody, identification efforts found that he was wanted for the 2014 homicide.

“This is a tremendous example of how no call is too small,” said Insp. Allison Good.

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“There was no way for these citizens to know what this man was possibly involved with but, because they took the time to make a police report we now have this alleged murder suspect in custody. You never know what your call to police may result in.”

In 2015, while still searching for him, Edmonton police said that Lacarte lived a drifter lifestyle and was known to Karahalios at the time the victim’s death.

Karahalios was described by friends and family as a prominent member of Edmonton’s LGBTQ community.

Lacarte was transported back to Edmonton, where he has since been charged with second-degree murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

“The EPS is grateful to our RCMP counterparts for locating this suspect, thereby helping us to conclude this ongoing investigation and provide some resolution to the family and friends of Mr. Karahalios,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Tebb with the EPS Historical Crimes Section.