'Justin was always my protector': Family remembers Regina's latest homicide victim

NatalieLangansays although it had been awhile since she spoke with her brother, she'll always remember him for his uncanny sense of humour and hardworking attitude.

"He is very missed," she said.

Justin Langan, 40, was shot in his home on the 1400 block ofPasquaStreet on Sunday night during a robbery. Hewas pronounced dead when he arrived in hospital.

• Regina man JustinLanganidentified as victim of homicide

"Justin was always my protector. He was my big brother," said Langan, pausing a momentas a few tears fell onto her lap.

She said she'strying to sort through her emotions afterspendingmost of Wednesday helping to plan her brother's funeral.

Man charged with murder

Chad Allen Barre, 31, has been charged with first-degree murder in Langan's death.

According to police, he fledthe robbery scene, allegedly nabbed a vehicleand led officers in anintense chase. Only after colliding with a police vehicle was he taken intocustody.

He is facing 11 charges in addition to murder.

Langansaid the two were known to each other.

"You really need to be aware of who is in your circle. Who are your friends? Who are your family?" she said.

"It scares me, and now I'm telling my kids be very, very careful who you associate yourself with."

All about family

Langan said some family relationships have been strained in the past, but everyone came together on Wednesday to finalize funeral arrangements.

"We didn't get a chance to see him at all since any of this has happened so it's just planning for this but not actually knowing if ... is it even real? Because it happened so suddenly so tragic," she said.

Long-time friend Johnny Chernoff was also shocked when he heard of Justin's death.

"I was really, really hurt when I heard this was him," saidChernoff.

He suffers from a debilitating lung disease andrecalled how Justin often showed up at his door after a snowfall to shovel his walk.

The two would often talk about family.

"He loved his family. He could go into tears talking about his kids. He'd go out of his way to make somebody else feel good," he said.