Body found in park

Photo: Contributed

UPDATE 5:26 p.m.

The man charged with second degree murder in relation to last night's homicide in Andy Livingstone Park is 26-year-old Matthew Brenner of Vancouver.

He has been held in custody, pending his next court appearance.

UPDATE 4:24 p.m.

Thanks to the quick thinking of Citizens' Crime Watch volunteers, one man is in custody following Vancouver's eighth homicide in 2015, which occurred in Andy Livingstone Park last night.

Shortly before 10 p.m., witnesses called 911 after they found a deceased man in the park near Expo Boulevard and Carrall Street.

Minutes later, the Vancouver Police Department's volunteer Citizens' Crime Watch, who were working to prevent crime in the area, spotted a suspicious man running from the area of the park. They notified their police coordinator who detained the suspect.

Police determined that the deceased man in the park was the victim of a homicide.

Homicide investigators and the VPD Forensic Identification Unit were called to the scene where they spent the remainder of the night and into today.

The victim has been identified as a 44-year-old man who had recently arrived in Vancouver. His name is not being released until the notification of his family has been completed.

The suspect, a 26-year-old Vancouver man, remains in custody and has been charged with second degree murder.

"If it wasn't for the dedication and quick thinking of the volunteers in the VPD's Citizens' Crime Watch, we would not have been able to take this dangerous offender off the street so quickly," said VPD spokesperson, Sergeant Randy Fincham.
 

Vancouver police are investigating the discovery of a body in Andy Livingstone Park.

Police believe the man was the victim of a homicide.

Witnesses reported finding the deceased male shortly before 10 p.m., Friday, in the park located at Expo Boulevard and Carrall Street in the city.

Homicide investigators and the VPD Forensic Identification Unit at at the scene, reports VPD Sgt. Randy Fincham.