A police officer testifying at an inquest into the death of a couple and their two children in Prince Rupert, B.C., in 2023 says the father believed he was the target of a “hit.”

RCMP Const. Jason Kettle is testifying at the inquest into the deaths of Christopher Duong, Janet Nguyen and their sons, aged two and four.

A notice of civil claim filed by B.C.’s director of civil forfeiture in 2015 describes Duong as a “violent gang member and drug trafficker” who was well known to police, with a history of weapons offences.

Under questioning on the first day of the inquest into the deaths, Kettle said he interpreted Duong’s claim that he was the target of a “hit” to mean that someone had been offered money to kill him.

Kettle says that on June 10, 2023, three days before the family was found dead, he responded to a call about an abandoned vehicle and found a Mercedes-Benz SUV registered to Nguyen that was obstructing traffic, a rear door was open and there was luggage and a large amount of cash inside.

Police said at the time of the deaths that they didn’t believe there were outstanding suspects or any danger to the public. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2026. 

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press