The family of the young Tsawwassen man killed in Langley earlier this year is already beginning to extend forgiveness to those responsible for his death.
In February, 21-year-old Taylor Johnson was found dead in a home in the 2000-block of 200th Street.
"I don't think there's any value in hatred or carrying around bitterness," said his father, Paul Johnson, who is the lead pastor at South Delta Baptist Church.
The family wants to see justice done, Paul Johnson said, and it thanked the RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) and the various police departments, including the Delta police, involved in the murder investigation.
But as Christians they want to see the perpetrators change their ways and "get right with God," Paul said.
"We hope that they find Jesus through this event," he said.
Last week, police announced the arrest of 23-year-old Jesse River Hill, of Surrey, in the killing. Hill has been charged with second-degree murder, break and enter with intent, disguise with intent and discharging a firearm with intent.
The killing was random and Johnson did not know the suspect, said IHIT spokesperson Sgt. Jennifer Pound.
"It was a senseless act that tragically took the life of Taylor," she said.
Taylor Johnson was looking after the home that contained a marijuana grow-op. Pound said police believe the murder was the result of the suspect trying to steal the crop of pot.
Police are not saying much about the circumstances surrounding how Johnson came to be looking after a home with a marijuana grow-op inside. "Taylor was a good kid," said Pound. "He was naive, and he made a bad decision that ultimately cost him his life."
Taylor's family described him as a gentle young man who was trusting and caring of others.
After his son's death, Paul Johnson said Taylor was "especially known for his gentle spirit" and was well liked by his peers at school and in the workplace. He described his as a typical young adult "working odd jobs to make ends meet."
The pastor and his family moved to Tsawwassen in 2007, joining the church that November after serving as a teaching pastor at Christ Community Church in Tucson, Arizona. One of six siblings, Taylor graduated from South Delta Secondary and was enrolled in the Advanced Music Production (AMP) program at the Nimbus School of Recording Arts in Vancouver. He was set to graduate in the weeks following his death and was excited about his impending career, said his dad.
He also had a love of sports and played rugby at SDSS, football at his high school in Tucson and baseball in Tsawwassen. "This has changed everything in our lives," said Wendy Johnson, Taylor's stepmother. "It is an open wound that is very raw."
Pound said there have not been any other arrests linked to the marijuana grow-op itself.
The police have not ruled out the possibility that others may be arrested in the case, Pound said.
"Evidence is still coming in," she said.
