This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/06/canadian-mountie-shooting-suspect-arrested-say-moncton-police

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Canadian police arrest suspect over shooting deaths of three Mounties Canadian police charge suspect over shooting deaths of three Mounties
(about 11 hours later)
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. A man suspected of gunning down three Royal Canadian Mounted Police was caught and charged on Friday, ending a 30-hour manhunt that closed schools and forced residents to hide inside their homes of this eastern Canadian city. "I'm done," a witness heard him tell police.
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. Police said at a press conference that they received a tip that led them to a wooded residential part of Moncton, New Brunswick, where they found 24-year-old Justin Bourque, suspected in the deadliest attack on Canada's national police force in nearly a decade.
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. Armed with high-powered long firearms, Bourque was spotted three times on Thursday as he evaded the manhunt that all but shut down the normally tranquil city about of about 60,000 people east of the Maine border. Nearly 300 police officers searched for Bourque, who was seen going in and out of a wooded area.
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.
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. Superintendent Marlene Snowman said Bourque was arrested at 12.10 am. She said he wasn't carrying any weapons, but some were found nearby. Prosecutors and police declined to comment when asked if the guns were acquired legally.
"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. Michelle Thibodeau said she saw the man in the front yard of her home and heard him say, "I'm done" before his arrest by officers with guns drawn.
"He lost it. The guy lost it," Fitzpatrick said. Bearded and shaggy-haired, Bourque made a brief court appearance on Friday afternoon, where he was charged with three counts of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Bourque was spotted three times on Thursday but still managed to elude the manhunt. He will be back in court on 3 July as he seeks a lawyer. A court appointed legal aid attorney represented him Friday.
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. Prosecutors say they were not requesting a psychiatric evaluation, seeing no need for one. The defence agreed.
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. There was a high-level security at the appearance, including officers with drawn weapons outside the courtroom.
Neighbour Holly Tingley said before the capture that residents feared that Bourque might return home. Roger Brown, commanding officer of RCMP in New Brunswick, choked back tears as he addressed media earlier on Friday.
"My kids keep asking me, 'Did they catch him? Did they catch him?' It puts me on edge every time they ask," she said. "Fortunately most people will never have to experience what our officers have gone through in the last two days," he said. "I can't dig deep enough to explain the sadness that we all feel."
Police used air support, tactical teams and canine units. Several hundred officers from New Brunswick and elsewhere from across Canada were involved. Brown identified the dead as Constables David Ross, 32, originally of Victoriaville, Quebec; Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, 45, originally of Boulogne-Billancourt in France; and Douglas James Larche of Saint John, New Brunswick.
Bourque was wearing military camouflage and carrying two rifles in a picture released by police on Twitter. "It's been a very challenging 30 hours for the officers that got this job done," Snowman said. "It will take some time to heal, but together we will get there."
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. Ross's mother Helene Rousseau said she was sad for her son's wife who has a one-year-old and is due to have a second child in September.
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. "It's going to be difficult. These children won't remember of course. They will not have had the opportunity of knowing their father," Rousseau said.
Canada's parliament observed a moment of silence on Thursday and the flag on Parliament Hill flew at half-mast. Snowman and other RCMP officials did not release any more details about Bourque's arrest or the circumstances of the shooting, citing their ongoing investigation. Details will be made public in court, she said.
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. Police have not spoken about a possible motive for the shootings. In a photo released earlier by police on Twitter, Bourque was wearing military camouflage and carrying two rifles.
Moncton residents reacted to Bourque's arrest and the lift of a lockdown while police scoured the city with a mix of relief and grief. Families and school groups placed flowers and notes on the steps of a downtown police station.
"It goes from fear to happiness to joy to sadness," said Lynne Lannigan. "At this point it doesn't matter if you're blood related or not."
Residents of Bourque's trailer park said he was a quiet, seemingly reclusive man who shared a small, worn trailer with a roommate. Neighbours described him as a withdrawn gun collector and avid hunter of birds, deer and moose.
During the manhunt, police asked residents of the city's north-west section to remain indoors with their doors locked and exterior lights on to help the search.
Much of Moncton, including its popular downtown area, was completely shut down. Some businesses placed signs in windows saying they were closed because of the manhunt.
The city took its buses off the roads and closed schools and government offices. Mail delivery was suspended.Police commandeered armoured trucks and used air support, tactical teams and canine units. Dozens of officers patrolled the search area with their weapons drawn.
Several hundred officers from New Brunswick and across Canada participated.
Two other Mounties who were injured in the shooting were recovering and doing well, police said.
Gun violence is rare in eastern Canada. This 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.