A man and a myth are now dead after the killing of Larry Robert Mizen, a man who ruled the streets of Surrey's Whalley neighbourhood for years.
Say Mizen's name out loud on Whalley's notorious strip along 135A Street and people would scatter, as though uttering his name would summon retribution.
They described him as an immense man, who patrolled the streets wearing a leather glove on one hand. Crossing the expert in martial arts was ill-advised.
Those who did had the trademark Mizen split on their forehead, a result of his gloved fist pounding their head with a single punch.
He ruled the streets, and the street-level drug trade in Whalley for years.
On Sunday (Oct. 19) at about 8:40 p.m., the 54-year-old was found dead in the basement suite of a home in the 11000-block of 136 Street.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is now investigating, and confirmed the dead man is Mizen. He was extremely well known to police.
The Leader became aware of Mizen and his reputation while working on an in-depth profile of Whalley in 2004.
RCMP and bylaw officers all had stories about Mizen. Many of them involved violence and that well-known split he created on the heads of his foes.
The day he was killed, he was posting angrily on Facebook, questioning whether a woman he knew was a hooker.
Mizen is Surrey's 13th confirmed murder of the year – the average reached between 2003 and 2012.
Anyone with information about Mizen's murder is asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).