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BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO - An older sister of Johnny Dryneck - who was recently killed in Behchoko - said her family is shocked by the death but appreciated the support they are getting from the community.

An undated photo of Johnny Dryneck. Dryneck was killed during an altercation in a Behchoko video store on Nov. 13. - photo courtesy of Giselle Marion

Crown prosecutors are deciding whether to charge a 17-year-old male from Behchoko with second-degree murder or manslaughter in connection with Dryneck's death. which occurred at Our Video store on Nov. 13.

The Crown cannot proceed with both charges but will go ahead with either one once the RCMP gathers all the information from their investigation.

Mary Rose Dryneck, who resides in Yellowknife, said her family got together in Behchoko after the death.

"We are taking it very hard."

"It's a shock," she said. "We never thought it would happen to him."

She said people from around the community - including many elders - have expressed how upset they are about Dryneck's death.

"The community is supporting us. They are coming to my uncle's house. It has been very hard on all of us," she said.

"They all loved my brother."

In the small community of 2,000 the murder - Behchoko's first since June 2002 - is taking its toll.

"We can't sit back and let this happen again, not to our family or anybody else," said Mary Rose.

Mary Rose said Johnny, 38, had worked as a general labourer for a diamond mine but just recently left the job.

He was living with a friend in Behchoko at the time of his death.

Sgt. Andy Ing said there was a physical altercation between Dryneck and a youth at the video store.

At this point, the RCMP is not releasing what the altercation stemmed from or what the injuries were that Dryneck sustained.

"We can't say at this point," said Ing, adding they are still gathering evidence and are waiting for autopsy results.

Stories have been floating around the community with some saying the youth had asked Dryneck for a cigarette or a small amount of money before the incident began.

Ing said no weapons were involved in the altercation.

He also said the investigation casts doubt upon earlier reports of people walking around an unconscious Dryneck at the store and not calling medical personnel right away.

"My understanding is that they were called immediately," he said.

Mary Rose disputed earlier reports that her brother appeared drunk at the time.

Violent crime has been a problem in Behchoko for at least the past decade.

According to the NWT Bureau of Statistics, incidents of violent crime in the community have been significantly higher than the territorial average since 1996.

In 2007, the violent crime rate in Behchoko was 162.7 incidents per 1,000 persons, compared to the NWT average of 70.7.

There were 328 violent crimes reported in the community in 2007.

Violent crimes are described as homicide, attempted murder, assaults, sexual assaults, abduction and robbery.

"Too many bad things have been happening," said Mary Rose about Behchoko.

"Too many people dying. Too many elders dying with illness or cancer and then a young guy like this, he's found dead."

Mary Rose said this is not the first time a family member has been attacked.

"A guy killed my older brother," she said, referring Edward Dryneck's death in the mid-1980s.

She added another brother, Roger Arrowmaker, was also assaulted and lost his leg.

"We are just so frustrated," said Mary Rose. "We are so upset."

On Nov. 15, just two days after the incident, Mary Rose said the family received crank calls at her uncle's house from who she thought were young males.

"(The voice on the phone) said: 'I know who you are. I know where you are. I'm going to come and get you.'"

Johnny Dryneck's funeral was scheduled for last Friday at 1 p.m. in the Roman Catholic Church.