Someday after the taking pictures demise of RCMP Const. Rick O’Brien in Coquitlam, B.C., a homicide cost has been laid.
Nicholas Bellemare, a 25-year-old Coquitlam man, has been charged with one rely of first-degree homicide and one rely of tried homicide with a firearm.
The Decrease Mainland’s Built-in Murder Investigation Staff introduced the cost in a information launch Saturday afternoon.
IHIT is main the investigation into the taking pictures of O’Brien and second RCMP officer who was wounded throughout an altercation in Coquitlam round 10 a.m. Friday.
The officers have been executing a search warrant associated to a drug investigation originating in Maple Ridge, IHIT mentioned.
A 3rd officer was additionally injured in the course of the incident. The 2 wounded officers have been taken to hospital and have since been launched, in line with police.
The suspect was additionally shot and wounded in the course of the incident, and the Unbiased Investigations Workplace of B.C. has been referred to as to analyze the actions of police.
First-degree homicide is the cost utilized to all killings of peace officers below the Prison Code, no matter whether or not the accused’s actions have been premeditated.
Bellemare stays in custody. On-line court docket data point out his subsequent look is scheduled for Oct. 3.
O’Brien’s demise has shocked and saddened the legislation enforcement neighborhood in B.C. and across the nation. It comes lower than a 12 months after the on-duty demise of Burnaby RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang, and simply two days earlier than the annual gathering on the B.C. Regulation Enforcement Memorial in Victoria to honour fallen officers.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the commanding officer of the B.C. RCMP, mentioned Friday that police have been “gutted” by the information.
“He was really distinctive – a hard-worker and a very good human being,” mentioned Supt. Wendy Mehat, the officer in command of the Ridge Meadows detachment, the place O’Brien spent all seven years of his RCMP profession.
“His demise makes no sense and heart-breaking.”
Condolences additionally poured in from provincial and federal officers, together with Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In his group’s assertion Saturday, IHIT officer-in-charge Supt. Mandeep Mooker added his sympathies.
“This can be a profound loss and I perceive it should have a long-lasting impact on Const. O’Brien’s household, buddies, colleagues and the neighborhood,” mentioned Mooker. “We want to ship our honest condolences to everybody impacted by this tragic occasion.”