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Canadian police arrest suspect over shooting of three Mounties Canadian police arrest suspect over shooting of three Mounties
(35 minutes later)
Police in the Canadian city of Moncton have arrested Justin Bourque, the suspect in a shooting spree that led to the deaths of three Mounties and the lockdown of hundreds of homes for 24 hours. The man suspected in the shooting deaths of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the wounding of two others was arrested early on Friday, police said.
Bourque, 24, had been on the run since Wednesday night when the fatal exchange of fire took place. Police had identified the 24-year-old Justin Bourque as their suspect after the shootings on Wednesday evening and embarked on a massive manhunt for the gunman, who witnesses had seen carrying two high-powered rifles and a bow.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in New Brunswick announced his arrest in the early hours of Friday: Much of Moncton, a normally quiet city of about 60,400 people, had been under lockdown, with frightened residents huddled in their homes as Mounties scoured the quiet streets.
The attack on the Mounties was the deadliest in nearly a decade and shocked many in Canada, where mass shootings are rare.
Michelle Thibodeau said she saw Bourque arrested in the front yard of her home. She said she heard the suspect say, "I'm done," before his arrest by officers with guns drawn.
Justin Bourque arrested by RCMP at 12:10 in Moncton. He is in police custody. Residents of north Moncton can now leave their homes.Justin Bourque arrested by RCMP at 12:10 in Moncton. He is in police custody. Residents of north Moncton can now leave their homes.
New Brunswick's top RCMP officer, Roger Brown, described it as the "darkest day" in the provincial force's history. A motive for the shootings was not known. Neighbours of the suspect described a withdrawn man who collected guns and was an avid hunter of birds, deer and moose.
The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, said in a statement the deaths of the officers would be honoured and remembered. "He never missed a season," said Kerry Fitzpatrick, who lives half a block away from Bourque and was at home when he heard the sound of gunfire. When he later heard Bourque might be the shooter, he walked over to Bourque's trailer, found an open door and Bourque's wallet on the table.
The hunt for Bourque began at 7.20pm on Wednesday after the RCMP "He lost it. The guy lost it," Fitzpatrick said.
received a call about a heavily armed man walking through the suburban Bourque was spotted three times on Thursday but still managed to elude the manhunt.
neighbourhood. Tactical officers were sent to the area. Mounties scoured the area looking for the shooter while warning Police released a map of a large portion of the northwest section of the city, including a heavily wooded area, where they wanted people to remain indoors with their doors locked. They urged residents to turn on exterior lights to help the search. Many parts of Moncton were completely shut down, with some businesses placing signs in windows explaining they were closed because of the manhunt.
residents to stay in their homes, lock their doors and even go to their Nervous residents who live in the same trailer park as Bourque said he was a quiet, seemingly reclusive man who shared a small, worn trailer with a roommate.
basements as a precaution. Neighbour Holly Tingley said before the capture that residents feared that Bourque might return home.
Two other Mounties were wounded in the ensuing shootout with Bourque, which is one of the worst ever single-day losses of life for Canada's national police force. "My kids keep asking me, 'Did they catch him? Did they catch him?' It puts me on edge every time they ask," she said.
The last major incident was in March 2005 when four Mounties were killed by a gunman on a farm in Police used air support, tactical teams and canine units. Several hundred officers from New Brunswick and elsewhere from across Canada were involved.
Mayerthorpe, Alberta. It remains the worst such case for the RCMP in more Bourque was wearing military camouflage and carrying two rifles in a picture released by police on Twitter.
than 100 years. Police still have not released the identities of the three officers who were killed on Wednesday night while responding to a call about an armed man. Two other officers, whose names also were not released, were wounded.
It was the deadliest attack on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police since four officers were killed by a gunman on a farm in the western Canadian province of Alberta in 2005. That attack remains the deadliest on Canadian police officers in 120 years.
Canada's parliament observed a moment of silence on Thursday and the flag on Parliament Hill flew at half-mast.
The three officers were the first Canadian police killed in the line of duty since March 2013, when a police officer in northern Quebec was shot after responding to a domestic violence call.