46-year-old Harrison Hot Springs man charged with helping fugitive murderer escape from jail

SURREY — RCMP say charges have been laid against three men, including a 46-year-old man from Harrison Hot Springs, who allegedly helped convicted double murderer Rabih Alkhalil escape a British Columbia pretrial centre in 2022.

But police say they can’t confirm media reports that fugitive Alkhalil has been arrested in the Middle East.

Sgt. Tammy Lobb has told a briefing that Edward Ayoub and John Potvin, both of Ottawa, and Ryan Van Gool of Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., have been charged with prison breach and conspiracy over the breakout from North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam, B.C., in July 2022.

Alkhalil escaped while on trial for the 2012 shooting murder of a gang rival in a busy Vancouver restaurant, and he was later found guilty of first-degree murder in his absence.