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| Canadian Police Seek Suspect in Killing of Officers | Canadian Police Seek Suspect in Killing of Officers |
| (3 months later) | |
| OTTAWA — A full day after a heavily armed gunman killed three police officers and wounded two others, Moncton, New Brunswick, largely remained under siege on Thursday night. | |
| As the police hunted for the person suspected of committing the killings, schools and most stores were closed, offices remained shut, buses were taken off the generally deserted streets, and mail delivery was suspended. In the neighborhood where the shooting occurred Wednesday evening, fearful residents, following police orders, remained in their homes. | As the police hunted for the person suspected of committing the killings, schools and most stores were closed, offices remained shut, buses were taken off the generally deserted streets, and mail delivery was suspended. In the neighborhood where the shooting occurred Wednesday evening, fearful residents, following police orders, remained in their homes. |
| Three members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were fatally shot, in what many witnesses characterized as an ambush, after responding to an emergency call about a man seen wearing military-style camouflage clothing and carrying two rifles near the woods adjacent to a subdivision. | Three members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were fatally shot, in what many witnesses characterized as an ambush, after responding to an emergency call about a man seen wearing military-style camouflage clothing and carrying two rifles near the woods adjacent to a subdivision. |
| For a city of 69,000 where serious crime does not usually get much worse than, say, burglary or assault, the shooting was particularly shocking. | For a city of 69,000 where serious crime does not usually get much worse than, say, burglary or assault, the shooting was particularly shocking. |
| In 2012, the most recent year for which records were available, Moncton had no murders, and there were just six homicides in all of New Brunswick, according to Statistics Canada, a government agency. | In 2012, the most recent year for which records were available, Moncton had no murders, and there were just six homicides in all of New Brunswick, according to Statistics Canada, a government agency. |
| “Never in my darkest dreams did I ever think that we would be facing what we’re facing today in Moncton,” Mayor George LeBlanc told reporters on Thursday. “If this can happen in Moncton, it can happen anywhere.” | “Never in my darkest dreams did I ever think that we would be facing what we’re facing today in Moncton,” Mayor George LeBlanc told reporters on Thursday. “If this can happen in Moncton, it can happen anywhere.” |
| Mounties from other regions and members of other police forces, backed by helicopters, black armored vehicles and aircraft, streamed into Moncton to join the hunt for the suspect, Justin Bourque, a 24-year-old resident. | Mounties from other regions and members of other police forces, backed by helicopters, black armored vehicles and aircraft, streamed into Moncton to join the hunt for the suspect, Justin Bourque, a 24-year-old resident. |
| The police released a photograph taken Wednesday evening that showed a man they said was Mr. Bourque carrying two rifles, or possibly a rifle and a shotgun, in the northwest part of the city. The authorities did not say how they identified him. | The police released a photograph taken Wednesday evening that showed a man they said was Mr. Bourque carrying two rifles, or possibly a rifle and a shotgun, in the northwest part of the city. The authorities did not say how they identified him. |
| The police said Mr. Bourque had previously worked at a local Walmart, and had no known criminal history. | The police said Mr. Bourque had previously worked at a local Walmart, and had no known criminal history. |
| Other details about him remained scarce on Thursday. A Facebook account apparently belonging to Mr. Bourque contained some postings expressing antipolice sentiments, and others condemning gun laws. | Other details about him remained scarce on Thursday. A Facebook account apparently belonging to Mr. Bourque contained some postings expressing antipolice sentiments, and others condemning gun laws. |
| There were also several images of guns. A rambling poem posted shortly before the shootings concludes: “I believe my kingdom will come.” | There were also several images of guns. A rambling poem posted shortly before the shootings concludes: “I believe my kingdom will come.” |
| Assistant Commissioner Roger Brown, the commander of the mounted police in New Brunswick, told a news conference that Mr. Bourque had been seen three times since the killings, most recently near a Costco store Thursday morning. But he said the need to protect police officers and the public thwarted attempts to apprehend him. | Assistant Commissioner Roger Brown, the commander of the mounted police in New Brunswick, told a news conference that Mr. Bourque had been seen three times since the killings, most recently near a Costco store Thursday morning. But he said the need to protect police officers and the public thwarted attempts to apprehend him. |
| Like many top Mountie officials during news media appearances since the shooting, Commissioner Brown appeared on the verge of tears. Although the vast force extends across the country and its units can be involved in wide-ranging investigations, Mounties also perform local police duties in places like Moncton. | Like many top Mountie officials during news media appearances since the shooting, Commissioner Brown appeared on the verge of tears. Although the vast force extends across the country and its units can be involved in wide-ranging investigations, Mounties also perform local police duties in places like Moncton. |
| Residents in the part of the city that has been locked down by the police have, for the most part, sheltered in basements. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation showed a photograph of young children who were placed in an empty bathtub in a windowless room for added protection. | Residents in the part of the city that has been locked down by the police have, for the most part, sheltered in basements. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation showed a photograph of young children who were placed in an empty bathtub in a windowless room for added protection. |
| Conrad Gagnon, 53, said by telephone that the gunman had passed his house shortly before he heard gunshots on Wednesday. “He looked like he was meditating or something or like he was stoned,” Mr. Gagnon said. He said the gunman ignored a large number of people, including children, on the street and in a park. | Conrad Gagnon, 53, said by telephone that the gunman had passed his house shortly before he heard gunshots on Wednesday. “He looked like he was meditating or something or like he was stoned,” Mr. Gagnon said. He said the gunman ignored a large number of people, including children, on the street and in a park. |
| Between the anxiety over the killer’s being at large and the noise of police helicopters, Mr. Gagnon said he was unable to rest and hoped that the gunman would be captured soon. “I cannot believe that they cannot find him in such a little place like this,” he said. | Between the anxiety over the killer’s being at large and the noise of police helicopters, Mr. Gagnon said he was unable to rest and hoped that the gunman would be captured soon. “I cannot believe that they cannot find him in such a little place like this,” he said. |
| Throughout the day, hopes were raised that Mr. Bourque had been cornered when heavily armed police surrounded a home, and later a commercial building. Both proved to be false leads. | Throughout the day, hopes were raised that Mr. Bourque had been cornered when heavily armed police surrounded a home, and later a commercial building. Both proved to be false leads. |
| The police still have not identified the three dead officers. One of the two wounded officers was released from a hospital on Thursday; the other underwent surgery for wounds that were described as not life-threatening. | The police still have not identified the three dead officers. One of the two wounded officers was released from a hospital on Thursday; the other underwent surgery for wounds that were described as not life-threatening. |