Fort St. James Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder

Thomas Kaylan Frank Duncan, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of John Louis Lazarre, who was shot in the head during a confrontation in Fort St. James February in 2022. The incident stemmed from a dispute over stolen firearms. Lazarre had accused Duncan of theft, which led to multiple confrontations between the two. On the night of the murder, Lazarre and his wife confronted Duncan at a trailer park. Duncan, armed with a rifle, shot Lazarre in the head from the roof of the trailer. Lazarre’s wife attempted to help him before calling 911. Duncan fled but was arrested nearby. He will be sentenced at a later date, with a mandatory life sentence and no parole for at least 10 years. The court has ordered pre-sentencing reports, including a psychiatric assessment. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April of this year.