Search for Moncton shooting suspect continues: RCMP

The RCMP says its search for a suspect in a fatal shooting in Moncton N.B., that killed three of its officers is ongoing, with the focus in the Moncton-North area.

In an update Thursday afternoon, RCMP Cpl. Chantal Farrah said the names of the deceased officers will not be released at this time. One injured officer remains in hospital, while the other has been released.

The RCMP is looking for 24-year-old Justin Bourque of Moncton. The police force tweeted an image of the suspect, who was wearing military fatigues and carrying two assault rifles at the time of the shootings. The RCMP says he’s not known to police. He’s 24 and police have been gathering information about him from family.

Cpl. Farrah urged residents to remain indoors with their doors locked and asked the public not to share information regarding the investigation via social media.

Earlier Thursday, police surrounded a building in Moncton as the search for the suspect intensified.

A crowd of about 100 people gathered to watch the manhunt unfold.

The suspect was reportedly spotted three times on Thursday morning, but officers were unable to apprehend him.

But Cpl. Farrah said a sighting in Oromocto earlier Thursday “has been determined to be unproven.”

Follow live coverage by CityNews journalists on the ground in Moncton.

A video of a family witnessing one of the shootings was posted on a Facebook page belonging to someone named Vanessa Bernatchez. WARNING: Violent video below.

There were more videos, with explicit language, posted to the same Facebook page.

This is assumed to be the suspected shooter’s Facebook page, full of posts that are pro-gun and anti-police.

Police spokesman Paul Greene confirmed on Wednesday that three officers died and said two other officers were taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

“It has been perhaps the darkest day in the history of the New Brunswick RCMP,” RCMP Commanding Officer Roger Brown said at a conference on Thursday. “This is like working through your worst nightmare.”

“This is a difficult time for Moncton and for Codiac as a family.” Codiac Supt. Marlene Snowman added, holding back tears.

Police are urging people in the Pinehurst area, where the shootings happened, to stay inside their homes and lock their doors until further notice. Drivers were also asked to stay out of the area.

 

The RCMP released its first update on the shooting at about 9:15 p.m. on Twitter. It confirmed the deaths of the three officers at 11 p.m. via Twitter.

 

Sean Gallacher, who lives near the area where police were concentrating their search, said he heard what he now believes were gunshots but initially thought his daughter had dropped some toys on the floor above him.

“I was downstairs and heard a few bangs,” said Gallacher, 35.

“I went to check but she hadn’t dropped anything. Then I heard the news and realized what it actually was.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper tweeted out a statement on Thursday morning.

The Horizon Health Network, the province’s largest health authority, said on its Twitter feed that two patients were taken to the Moncton Hospital with gunshot wounds.

“TMH is restricting visitors to those with critically ill family members. All others are asked to refrain from visiting at this time,” the health board said in a subsequent tweet.

Federal Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney tweeted that he was “shocked by the tragedy” and that his “Thoughts and prayers with our frontline @rcmpgrcpolice officers and families.”

 

Theriault said the search for the suspect was concentrated in the area of Ryan Street and Hildegarde Road.

His voicemail later said that the RCMP was searching for the suspect in the area of the Moncton Coliseum.

Several schools, government offices and other facilities are closed as the manhunt for Bourque continues.