Photo by Vince Fedoroff
MAJOR INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED – RCMP officers confer near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Ogilvie Street last Thursday morning. It proved to be the scene of the Yukon’s first homicide of the year.
Man stands charged with first-degree murder
An 18-year-old Whitehorse man has been charged with first-degree murder following last Thursday’s death of 35-year-old Aaron Smarch.
An 18-year-old Whitehorse man has been charged with first-degree murder following last Thursday’s death of 35-year-old Aaron Smarch.
At about 9 p.m. Monday, the Yukon RCMP Major Crime Unit, along with other supporting units, arrested Norman Kendi without incident, police said Tuesday afternoon.
Officers also executed two search warrants related to the investigation in downtown Whitehorse on Monday evening.
Kendi made his first court appearance Tuesday, and remains in custody.
At about 5:20 a.m. last Thursday, police received a call about a person laying on the ground near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Ogilvie Street.
Police sped to the scene and began life-saving efforts, but Smarch was later pronouncd dead at Whitehorse General Hospital.
The area was closed to traffic until about 1 p.m. last Thursday.
This was the territory’s first recorded homicide in 2023. The investigation is continuing.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Whitehorse RCMP Major Crime Unit at 667-5551.
“The Yukon RCMP continues to share our condolences with the family and friends of Aaron Smarch, and would like to thank everyone who has assisted in this investigation,” police said.
Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar
In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.
Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.
Comments (13)
Up 15 Down 4
Anie on Feb 13, 2023 at 3:43 pm
Juniper, I often agree with you, but not this time. I moved to Whitehorse in 1972 and street drugs were a big thing even then. People old and young overdosed, died, stole, committed acts of violence, all related to drug habits or drug business. As the kids grew up, they would tell us who was selling. Along with strangers, there were Lots of familiar names, long term family names. We wondered how, if we knew, why didn't the prosecutors . Then we looked at some of the names and nodded knowingly. It's not reasonable, or accurate, to blame the drug business on new yukoners.
Up 29 Down 7
Justice on Feb 11, 2023 at 10:45 am
Gladue report is an injustice to everyone that is a victim
Up 24 Down 23
Juniper Jackson on Feb 10, 2023 at 3:41 pm
To those who reminded me that this issue was 2 locals, First Nations heritage, I'm sorry I didn't make my comment clearer. They did not go out, search out drugs or booze and get it into the Yukon..Someone else did that. Someone who knows suppliers down south. There has always been family violence, but not murders, not shootings, not knifings.. We are not safe on Main street at 3 a.m. Used to be.
Up 27 Down 15
Dave on Feb 10, 2023 at 8:25 am
Bring back the death penalty.
Up 36 Down 9
Ruby on Feb 9, 2023 at 5:02 pm
If you don’t recognize the names Smarch and Kendi it’s probably you who’s from outside. Don’t make this more hateful and horrible than it already is.
Up 63 Down 3
@ Juniper Jackson on Feb 9, 2023 at 10:17 am
Hi Juniper,
While you are not wrong in saying "Big city people bringing their drugs, drug habits, violence, guns and crap with them." this was unfortunately another case of local Indigenous killing another indigenous.
Unfortunate events, what makes someone want to kill another human, and over what?
I mean this kid is high school age, it's quite horrifying.
Up 39 Down 22
Nope on Feb 9, 2023 at 9:52 am
June bug your xenophobia is showing.
Both the victim and accused are locals. So back to your regular pearl clutching you go.
Up 38 Down 6
Please lock him up on Feb 8, 2023 at 7:10 pm
I hope this man never sees the light of day in this city again. To murder someone in that way is absolutely horrific. Hopefully the community can rally together for the family of the man that passed away.
Up 21 Down 15
North_of_60 on Feb 8, 2023 at 5:49 pm
@Juni, I see yer point and agree, however in this case the two are not recent arrivals to the Yukon. Since we don't have Greyhound anymore, maybe the govt could pay a one-way plane ticket for anyone who wanted to leave for another part of Canada, as long as they didn't come back to the Yukon.
Up 59 Down 6
Guncache on Feb 8, 2023 at 4:54 pm
It won't stay at 1st degree. They'll knock that down to 2nd degree or manslaughter. His lawyer (that the taxpayers will pay for), will plead that 1st degree is inhumane and against his rights
Up 13 Down 17
Common sense on Feb 8, 2023 at 4:53 pm
I knew it they built a new jail and now the push is on to fill it with riffraff, shoulda built a better system to allow the riffraff to leave.
Up 89 Down 79
Juniper Jackson on Feb 8, 2023 at 2:47 pm
My beautiful little City..isn't so beautiful anymore. The influx of 7,000 people, some of whom have to stay here, terms of condition for staying Canada, or employment. Big city people bringing their drugs, drug habits, violence, guns and crap with them. Many years ago when Greyhound was still running, people got a bus ticket out. Too bad Greyhound isn't running any more.
Up 115 Down 20
MILK on Feb 8, 2023 at 2:41 pm
Lock him up for life. Take a life, give yours to prison for life. Seems fair. No parole, no appeals, no time served. You murder then that's the deal. Condolences to the Smarch family and loved ones.