Murder suspect in court
One of two charged with second-degree murder makes first appearance
One of the two men accused of killing a 45year-old Lethbridge man made his first appearance in Lethbridge provincial court on Wednesday. Rylan James Wyatt Twigg, 23, and Simon Danny Scout, 19, are both charged with seconddegree murder in the death of Kenrick Leonard First Rider, who was killed at his northside home earlier this week.
The victim and the accused were all living together in the same house, said Sgt. Travis Evenson of the Lethbridge Police Criminal Investigation Section. He also confirmed one of the accused, Rylan Twigg, is the son of the victim’s girlfriend.
“All the people are known to each other,” said Evenson, adding there is no danger to the community. “There’s nothing random where the public needs to be aware of anything out there.”
Evenson confirmed police had been called to the home for disturbances in the past, but said he couldn’t go into exact detail about the nature of the calls.
On Monday, Lethbridge EMS responded to an unresponsive man at a home in the 1200 block of 9 Avenue North at about 7:20 a.m. The man, later identified as First Rider, was pronounced dead at the scene and police were subsequently contacted.
Police say their investigation determined First Rider had been involved in a verbal dispute with two other men at the home, which escalated to a physical altercation that resulted in First Rider sustaining fatal injuries.
Twigg was arrested without incident on Monday at about 5:20 p.m., when he attended the police station in connection with First Rider’s death.
Scout was arrested later Tuesday on the northside following public tips after an arrest warrant had been issued.
Upon completion of an autopsy in Calgary Tuesday, First Rider’s death was officially ruled a homicide.
Evenson said he wouldn’t comment on the cause of death to preserve the integrity of the court case, nor would he speak to the character of the two accused.
“Our condolences go out to the family and all people involved,” he said. “It’s obviously an unfortunate incident.”
Both men are in custody. Twigg made a brief first court appearance on Wednesday via closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre.
A number of family members were in the courtroom. One woman wept loudly and cried “Son! Son! I love you!” upon Twigg’s appearance.
Twigg is remanded until his next court date scheduled for Dec. 8. It’s unknown when Scout will make his first court appearance.
This is the second homicide in Lethbridge this year.