Eight-Year Prison Term for Burnaby Teen's 2023 Stabbing Death
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has handed down an eight-year prison sentence to a young man convicted in the fatal 2023 stabbing of a Burnaby teenager during a violent home invasion. The sentencing marks a significant development in a case that has devastated a local family and community.
Details of the Crime and Sentencing
Justice Warren Milman delivered the sentence to Ali Shamkhi, now 22, for his role in the manslaughter of 19-year-old Ryan Nagy on June 29, 2023. Shamkhi pleaded guilty to manslaughter on October 31, 2025, along with charges of carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a prohibited or restricted firearm.
The judge noted that Shamkhi had shown only "tepid expressions of remorse" for his involvement in Nagy's death, though he expressed more unequivocal regret during a March 5 sentencing hearing at Vancouver Law Courts. Milman's detailed sentencing reasons were released on Tuesday.
Violent Home Invasion Details
The tragic incident occurred when Shamkhi and three others broke into a residence in the 7600-block of 17th Avenue in Burnaby, where Nagy lived with his partner. According to court documents, the intruders intended "to steal some firearms" from the occupants.
During the invasion, Shamkhi was armed with a knife and participated in the attack on Nagy and his partner, though the Crown did not contend that Shamkhi himself inflicted the fatal wound. Both victims were bound with duct tape, with Nagy also being zip-tied before sustaining five stab wounds, one of which proved fatal.
Aggravating and Mitigating Factors
Justice Milman identified several aggravating factors in the case, including:
- The use of a knife during the commission of the crime
- Premeditation and planned use of violence
- Shamkhi's criminal history, including previous assault convictions
- Continued "alarming pattern of violence" even while in pre-trial custody, with four assaults on other inmates
Mitigating factors included Shamkhi's guilty plea and his youth at the time of the offense. The judge also noted that Shamkhi was born in Indonesia, moved to Canada at a young age, was raised by a single mother, and had since earned his Dogwood diploma after being kicked out of school.
Victim Impact and Family Statements
The court heard emotional statements from Nagy's family and friends, who described the ongoing devastation caused by his violent death. Justice Milman acknowledged their pain, stating, "It is apparent to me that Mr. Nagy was and is a remarkable person, one of those rare individuals who bring light into the world and make it a better place for everyone around them."
The judge added, "The cutting short of his life at the age of only 19 as well as the devastating and ongoing impact of it on those who knew and loved him is incalculable."
Legal Proceedings and Co-Defendants
Crown prosecutor Brendan McCabe and defence lawyer Anthony Lagemaat had filed a joint submission for a sentence of ten and a half years minus credit for time served in pre-custody detention, which Justice Milman deemed appropriate in his final ruling.
Shamkhi was among four men charged in September 2024 in connection with the home invasion and Nagy's death. The other three defendants remain before the courts as legal proceedings continue.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) had identified Nagy as the victim early in their investigation, hoping the public identification would help advance their case. The weapons charges against Shamkhi stemmed from a later encounter with police who approached him to execute a DNA warrant during the homicide investigation.
