Daughter charged in deadly Markham home invasion

Murder charges have been laid against a woman in connection with the fatal shooting of her mother during a home invasion on Nov. 8 in Markham, Ont.

Jennifer Pan, 24, has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her mother and the shooting of her father, Chief Armand La Barge York regional police said at a  news conference Tuesday.

Pan's mother, Bich-Ha Pan, 53, was shot during the home invasion and died at the scene. Her father, Huei Hann Pan, 57, was also shot several times but survived the attack and is recovering from his injuries.

Police initially said Pan was separated from her parents and tied up in another room in the house on Helen Avenue, a quiet residential street near Highway 407 and Kennedy Road, north of Toronto. She was unhurt.

Police are still looking for three other men in connection with the home invasion, La Barge said.

"We are very confident that given the information that our investigators have unearthed to date, there will be further arrests made in this case," he said.

He wouldn't say whether Pan knows the other suspects.

Two police sources told the CBC's Dwight Drummond that the daughter is alleged to be the mastermind behind the killing. Police refused to comment on a possible motive.

Det.-Sgt. Larry Wilson said the conspiracy to commit murder charge means "there is some planning and deliberation in regards to the homicide and involving the three other individuals in this matter."

Accomplice descriptions released

Police released descriptions of three suspects:

• A black male between the ages of 20 and 25, about six feet two inches tall with a muscular build.
• A white male age 20 to 25, about six feet tall with a medium build.
• A black male age 20 to 25, about six-foot-two with a thin build.

Police said after the attack that they believed three individuals entered the Pan home through the front door around 10:30 p.m. ET, shot Bich-Ha Pan and her husband several times before looking for cash and valuables.

In the aftermath of the invasion, police suspected it was a random attack but revised the assessment early this week and directed their investigation at Jennifer Pan, La Barge said.

Pan was arrested Monday evening and made a court appearance in Newmarket on Tuesday.

She has been remanded until Nov. 30, when she will make another court appearance.

The elder Pans also have a son, who is enrolled in university in Hamilton, Ont., and wasn't at the home at the time of the invasion.