RCMP officer slain, 2 others wounded following shootout; suspect charged with murder

A tragedy occurred in Coquitlam on Friday morning, which ended with two RCMP officers and one suspect being shot. One officer died of his injuries on scene, while the rest were all taken to hospital with serious injuries.

On Friday evening, RCMP Commissioner Dwayne McDonald identified the slain officer as Const. Rick O’Brien. He was 51.

“This is an extremely difficult and tragic day for our members,” McDonald said. “To say that today has been a struggle is an understatement. “The RCMP family is gutted.”

Coquitlam resident Nicholas Bellemare, 25, is facing charges of first degree murder and attempted murder with a firearm.

O’Brien was one of several Ridge Meadows officers tasked with executing a search warrant at an apartment near Pinetree Way and Glen Drive in Coquitlam at around 10 a.m. on Friday.

The warrant was connected to a Maple Ridge drug investigation, according to an RCMP release.

Both O’Brien and another officer were shot. A third officer “sustained injuries” during the altercation, according to an RCMP release.

The suspect sustained non-life threatening injuries.

After being briefly hospitalized, the two injured police officers are now recovering at home.

Details of what exactly led to the deadly exchange of gunfire in an apartment building have yet to be released.

A short press release released by the RCMP’s Surrey office stated the officers became in an “altercation,” and that all were transported to hospital by paramedics.

B.C. Premier David Eby, addressed the “critical incident,” at a Union of BC Municipalities event but also did not elaborate on details, only assuring the public there was no longer a threat to public safety.

The incident occurred a short distance from Coquitlam City Hall, and the commercial and residential area was soon swarmed by emergency responders, including Lower Mainland’s RCMP Emergency Response Team, K-9 units, and a police helicopter.

Witnesses on the street reportedly heard several rounds of gunfire, saw injured officers on the street being attended to by paramedics, and saw a man in his underwear being taken away in handcuffs, as per reporting by the Vancouver Sun.

Glen Drive was closed immediately following the incident and remained closed by the end of the business day.

The integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has been deployed and has taken charge of the investigation into the officer’s death. IHIT has yet to release any details publicly.

O’Brien had just celebrated his seventh year in the force, all of which he served at the Ridge Meadows RCMP working in community policing, according to McDonald.

“We all join in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Const. O’Brien’s family,” McDonald said, stating he had met with O’Brien’s wife and children prior to releasing his name.

O’Brien received a CO Commendation for Bravery and provincial award within a year of being on the job for his involvement in the rescue of victims from a home invasion.

The death of O’Brien comes just days before the BC Law Enforcement Memorial, which pays tribute to RCMP officers killed on duty, and the one-year anniversary of the death of Const. Shaelyn Yang of Burnaby RCMP.

In a statement, the City of Pitt Meadows confirmed the officers worked for their department, and said they were flying their flags at half mast in all municipal buildings.

“Our heartfelt condolences go to the families of the victims as well as our local officers,” the city said in a statement.

Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA Selina Robinson also offered her condolences to those impacted by the incident.

“Coquitlam City Council and staff join me in extending our deepest condolences, and humble gratitude to all the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect our community,” stated Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart in a release. “We recognize the daily challenges and risks our police members face. To see any one of them harmed in the line of duty is heartbreaking, and when a law enforcement officer makes the ultimate sacrifice while working to keep our city safe, it is truly devastating.”

A funeral procession for O’Brien departed from Coquitlam through Maple Ridge and into Abbotsford shortly after 5 p.m.

Anyone who may have information on the case is asked to call the RCMP homicide division at 1-877-551-IHIT 4448 or to email ihitinfo-grc.gc.ca.

Police watchdog

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is examining the incident, according to a statement from IIOBC.

The investigation will attempt to determine “what occurred leading up to and during the interaction with police.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the witness line at 1-855-446-8477 or to contact the watchdog online.

Fundraiser

A GoFundMe for O’Brien’s family has so far received more than $95,000 in donations.