RCMP say a Smithers, B.C., man has been arrested and charged in relation to a homicide in the northwestern B.C. community nearly one year ago.

Police say they received a report on Sept. 8, 2023 of a man who had been shot in a vehicle outside a residence in Smithers. He later died of his injuries.

The B.C. Prosecution Service approved a charge of second-degree murder against Sylvester Gordon Joseph of Smithers on Friday, RCMP said.

“Homicide investigations are very complex and do take … time to gather all the necessary evidence before we even can forward a package to Crown for review,” said RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark.

Joseph was arrested Friday in Kelowna without incident, police said.

“It could be devastating to [a] community … it’s one step in the process so it’s really not closure,” Clark said.

A court date has not yet been set.