Friend says shooting victim was caring, supportive guy

REGINA Friends of Miguel Lane remember a cheerful daredevil who would do anything for those he loved.

Lane was shot in Regina’s Lakeview neighbourhood on Tuesday, and died in hospital early the next morning. Austin Thomas Yates, 22, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with his death.

Rebecca Mintzler, who says she was one of Lane’s closest friends, was at a Wednesday gathering of about 20 people who came together to celebrate a 21-year-old man who lived life to the hilt.

“He told us that, when he died, he

wanted us to have a party because he knew he wasn’t going to live long — and so we had a party,” Mintzler said. “He loved life. He loved doing everything that was terrifying.”

She said Lane owned a motorcycle and was apt to do wheelies and other tricks. She called him both “reckless” and “courageous.”

According to Mintzler, Lane and his alleged killer knew each other and were “friends to an extent.”

She said a recent dispute had triggered some “anger” between them, but she didn’t think it was serious enough to lead to violence.

She said she was unaware of any

criminal activity that might have led to Lane’s death.

Yates made a brief appearance in Regina provincial court on Friday.

The slightly built man showed no visible emotion as he stood in the prisoner dock.

He also faces a number of unrelated charges, including taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, driving while prohibited and impaired driving. Those charges had been the subject of bench warrants.

At the request of defence lawyer Sharon Fox, Yates’s case was simply adjourned to Nov. 9.

He will stay in custody.

Several members of Lane’s family exchanged emotional hugs before and after the court appearance.

His death was the sixth homicide this year in Regina, and the second in a two-week period.

Mintzler said she wants people to remember Lane the way his friends did, as “the guy who would do anything for anyone.”

She remembers how he supported her through trauma she experienced after she was a victim of crime three years ago.

“He’d be there to help me, he was like a guardian angel,” she said.