Charges laid in homicide of Ridge Meadows RCMP officer
Coquitlam, Ridge Meadows, Integrated Homicide Investigation Team
Sat Sep 23 15:29:00 PDT 2023
On September 22, 2023, at approximately 10 a.m., Ridge Meadows RCMP officers were executing a warrant in Coquitlam in relation to a drug investigation originating from Maple Ridge.
While there, the attending officers became engaged in an altercation with a man which resulted in Cst. O’Brien being fatally shot. A second RCMP officer was shot and wounded in addition to a third officer having sustained injures during the course of the event. The two wounded officers were transported to hospital where they were treated for injuries. They have since been released and are recovering at home. Cst. O’Brien succumbed to his injuries on scene, despite the best efforts of BC Emergency Health Services.
During the altercation, the suspect was also shot and wounded. As a result, the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO BC) is running a concurrent investigation.
On September 23, 2023, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges against Nicholas Bellemare, 25, of Coquitlam. Bellemare has been charged with one count of First Degree Murder and one count of Attempted Murder with a firearm. Bellemare has been remanded in custody.
This is a profound loss and I understand it will have a lasting effect on Cst. O’Brien’s family, friends, colleagues and the community,says Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, Office- in-Charge of IHIT.We wish to send our sincere condolences to everyone impacted by this tragic event.
IHIT is working in partnership with Ridge Meadows and Coquitlam Detachments, the BC Coroners Service, and the Integrated Forensic Identification Section (IFIS). Investigators also wish to thank the Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team (IERT) Surrey RCMP, the Vancouver Police Department’s Firearms Lab, New Westminster Police Department and BC Emergency Health Service for their assistance.
Anyone who may have information regarding this homicide is asked to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at: ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Please note: As this investigation is now before the courts and a concurrent IIOBC investigation is underway, IHIT will not be available for further comment.
Released by:
Sgt. Timothy Pierotti
Media Relations Officer
Integrated Homicide Investigation Team
14200 Green Timbers Way, Surrey, BC V3T 6T3
Office: 778-290-5202
Email: ediv_ihit_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: homicideteam.ca
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