The man facing a charge of first-degree murder in connection with Friday night’s shooting in Kitchener is Christopher Birch, a 29-year-old Kitchener resident.

Birch made a brief appearance in Kitchener court Monday afternoon and was remanded into custody.

He is accused of killing Brandon Makins, a 33-year-old man who was shot dead Friday night on Greendale Crescent, near King Street East and River Road in east Kitchener.

Birch was arrested Saturday, after police tracked him to a location in Durham Region.

Family members say Makins had four sons, two of whom witnessed the shooting.

In an interview, mother Mona Makins said her 17-year-old grandson Dustin was sitting in the path of the bullet.

“(Brandon) moved over in front and took the bullet, or else it probably would have hit Dustin,” she said.

Makins said her 12-year-old grandson saw the shooting while running down the street.

In addition to murder, Birch faces charges of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and using a firearm in the commission of an offence.

Birch is expected to return to court Wednesday via a video link.

His Monday court appearance was attended by several of his relatives, who declined to be interviewed for this story.