A Cape Breton family is grieving this weekend for a man killed during a botched armoured truck robbery in Edmonton.

Randy James Munian, 40, was shot by an armoured truck guard Friday, after police say he attempted to rob it by spraying the guards with pepper spray.

"I know it's a terrible thing he done, but I don't think he should have lost his life over it," his brother, Roland Munian, said Sunday from Cheticamp.

The guard will not be charged, as Munian's death is considered non culpable homicide, Edmonton Police Service spokesperson Scott Pattison said. Police still are searching for a second suspect in the robbery.

Randy Munian (Facebook/Randy Munian)

'Never a cross guy'

Randy Munian's death came as a shock to his family, who remember him as a funny, free spirited father who enjoyed working out.

"He was a generous guy," his brother said. "He would never leave you stuck. He would give the shirt off his back if he could. He was always happy-going. He was never a cross guy."

Randy Munian had five children. (Supplied by Jessica Munian)

Soon-to-be father of sixth child

He had five children, and another on the way. From Whitney Pier, N.S., Munian most recently lived in Edmonton, where he worked as a scaffolder, his brother said.

"He had a family that loved him, too," cousin Allison Emms said from Cheticamp.

"He seemed to be doing so well out there, and I don't understand why all of a sudden this happened."

Randy Munian grew up in Whitney Pier. (Supplied by Jessica Munian)

Testified in Thomas Svekla trial

Munian had been "well known" to Edmonton police, mostly for property crimes, police said. About eight years ago, he "helped out the police" by testifying against convicted killer and rapist Thomas Svekla, his roommate for a time, his brother said, and "put him away for life."

Munian testified during trial he had met one of the women killed. Svekla has been a suspect in several other sex workers' disappearances.

He was always talking about coming home, wanting to come home, missing Cape Breton, and I just wish he would've. - Allison Emms

The online comments about her cousin have been hard, Emms said. She remembers picking blueberries with her "teddy bear" cousin, taking the dory out for a spin as kids, and how he'd light up a room with his charm.

"It's a shame the circumstances that happened, but did they ever think of the hurt, the grieving that his family has here back in Cape Breton?"

'Major, major blow'

Munian's family is planning his funeral to be held in Nova Scotia, but is worried about finding a place large enough as he has "at least" 200 cousins, Emms said.

"It's been a major, major blow to the whole community of Cape Breton down here," she said.

"He was always talking about coming home, wanting to come home, missing Cape Breton, and I just wish he would've."