By Taylor MacPherson

Pechawis sentenced to over 8 years in Cowan shooting

Nov 17, 2017 | 4:00 PM

An Indian Posse member was handed an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence this afternoon for his role in a 2016 shooting death.

Tyler Pechawis, 27, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the Jan. 9, 2016 homicide of 23-year-old Jonathan Lee Cowan. Crown prosecutor Cynthia Alexander said Pechawis accompanied two men, Preston Spencer Dean Bird and Reno Roy Keenatch, to Cowan’s home seeking to fight a fourth man over an alleged theft of $200. Pechawis retrieved a shotgun from his home, Alexander said, which he gave to Bird.

The trio did not find the man they were hoping to fight at Cowan’s home, Alexander said, but for reasons unknown Bird allegedly shot Cowan “point-blank” in the stomach, killing him.

Bird and Keenatch are both facing murder charges in connection with the shooting, Alexander told paNOW, and both men are currently awaiting pre-trails.

Justice Lyle Zuk said Pechawis shared the responsibility for Cowan’s death, despite not pulling the trigger personally or directly encouraging any violence against the young man.

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“Although Mr. Pechawis was not the shooter, he provided the firearm,” Zuk said. “The life of a young man was taken for no apparent reason, and in a most violent manner.”

Zuk said Pechawis could have refused to involve himself in the situation, but instead chose to accompany Bird and Keenatch on their quest for “vigilante justice” and equipped the alleged shooter with a shotgun. Other aggravating factors included Pechawis’ involvement in the Indian Posse and the use of a firearm during the killing, Zuk said, as well as the fact Pechawis fled the scene and disposed of the spent shotgun shell after the shooting.

Pechawis was handed an eight-year sentence by Zuk. Having already spent more than 600 days in custody, Pechawis was given credit for 30 months, leaving him with six years left to serve.

The allegations against Bird and Keenatch have not been tested before the courts. 

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews