By Ashley Wiebe

UPDATE: Man involved in homicide has no prior involvement with police

Jan 26, 2017 | 7:58 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Police say they’ve had no prior involvement with the man arrested and charged in connection with the death of a Medicine Hat man on New Year’s Eve.

Luke Boxell, 21, was arrested and charged with second degree murder on January 25th at the police station.

Police found Jordan Pede, 24, suffering from a gun shot wound in Strathcona Island Park on December 31st.

He was rushed to a Calgary hospital where he later died from his injuries.

“There were many names and people that came to us from social media and different witnesses so we had a list of persons of interest and he was on that list, but he wasn’t immediate,” said Inspector Brent Secondiak. “It did take a little bit of time.”

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Police say Boxell’s his relationship with Pede is believed to be linked to drugs.

“We believe that it was drug related so they had some knowledge through that circle,” Secondiak said. “If they had a relationship outside of that, I’m not certain.”

Secondiak said this isn’t the end of the investigation.

“At this point the investigation is still on-going,” he said. “We’re still looking at different suspects and other people who may have been there or knew about what happened. We still want people, if they know anything about this, or anyone has talked to them about it, to come into the police service and provide a statement. It’s crucially important.”

Boxell made his first court appearance Thursday morning.

He has been remanded into custody and is expected back in court on February 8th.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 403-529-8481 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).