Posted on 08/10/2018 4:28:16 PM PDT by Candor7
2 civilian victims not named; 48-year-old suspect being treated in hospital for injuries sustained in shooting
Two police officers who were among four people killed in a shooting in Fredericton Friday morning have been identified as Lawrence Robert Costello, 45, and Sara Mae Helen Burns, 43.
Costello was a 20-year police veteran, is survived by his partner and four children. Burns joined the Fredericton Police Force in 2016 but had served as an auxiliary officer for two years. She leaves behind her husband and three children.
The 48-year-old suspect, who has not yet been identified, is in hospital and is being treated for serious injuries.
The hospital said it was treating "multiple shooting victims," but police provided no details about them.
Fitch, Mayor Mike O'Brien and New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant all spoke at the news conference but shed little light on what happened.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our officers today," O'Brien said. "Our love and support goes out to everybody. In this community, we grieve together but we'll heal together as well."
Police said they responded to reports of gunfire at an apartment complex on the 200 block of Brookside Drive in the city's north end at 7:10 a.m. AT.
"Officers engaged with the suspect and shots were fired by police," said Deputy Chief Martin Gaudet. Fredericton police and RCMP officers survey the area where the shooting took place. (Keith Minchin/Canadian Press)
A perimeter was set up and the neighbourhood sealed off, while residents were told to stay inside.
Gaudet said the police officers who died were the first on the scene. They saw a man and woman lying on the ground — the two civilians who were killed — and were shot as they approached.
At 9:30 a.m., police entered an apartment and arrested the suspect. A window on the top floor of the building showed holes left by tear gas canisters.
Police declared the threat to the neighbourhood over at about 11 a.m.
"Obviously this is incredibly difficult for our officers and for our community," Gaudet said. "No one ever wants to lose a colleague or friend, especially in this kind of situation."
Gaudet said he couldn't provide any information about how many other people were wounded in the shooting or their conditions, as the investigation is ongoing.
"The finer details of the call will be determined in the investigation," he said.
Ross White, the chief superintendent of the New Brunswick RCMP, said the major crimes division assisted local police in the investigation today. The Mounties will take over the homicide investigation.
RCMP issued a release Friday evening asking the public for photos and videos of the shooting to assist the investigation. A link was provided for files to be uploaded anonymously.
A witness describes harrowing moments of watching shots fired at his building: 'It was horrible' 00:00 02:09 A north Fredericton resident describes his terror at seeing shots fired toward his building, passing close to his son's bedroom. 2:09
At least a dozen people displaced from the apartment complex where the shooting occurred will need Red Cross assistance.
The residents of the buildings were told they can't go back to their apartments until the investigation is completed.
On Friday evening, at least 20 people were gathered at Willie O'Ree Place, an arena, waiting to find out where they will spend the night. Joseph Cartwright, his partner and young child were among them.
"The Red Cross took people up here so we were like, 'OK, they wouldn't let us get our cats, they wouldn't let us get our cars, our clothes, nothing.' They said something about putting us up. They're not sure yet where," he said.
A Red Cross volunteer said the organization will find hotel accommodations for people who can't stay with family or friends.
Early in the morning, eyewitnesses said they heard dozens of shots and soon saw police around the area where there is a cluster of apartment buildings.
The neighbourhood was locked down and people were told to stay inside their homes. Police also told residents to avoid the Brookside Drive area, a major stretch of road that leads to the popular Brookside Mall.
Parisa Motallebikia, who lived near the apartment where the shots were fired, said a man shouted at her and her husband when they were inside their apartment.
"Our windows broke and the bullets passed from the wall and go to my son's bed. In front of my son's bed. Flowers and messages have been dropped off outside the police station in downtown Fredericton. (Julia Wright/CBC)
"And then we came out of [the] building and again we heard the shot."
Shortly before 9 a.m., an apartment building at 237 Brookside Dr. was evacuated.
About two hours later, when police confirmed there was no further threat to the public, the lockdown was lifted. Dozens of residents lined up outside the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton to show their support. (Joe McDonald/CBC)
At the time, police would only say they were investigating an "ongoing incident."
Mysterious lack of details
If it was a coordinated plot those who sent him already know his name and that he is in custody.
Once you are in custody, isn’t your name a matter of public record?
No next of kin to notify in the case of a live apprehension of the shooter.
Bull. That's all the identification we need. They just identified him.
Today the darkness struck our sleepy little town of Fredericton New Brunswick, Canada. Arriving in Fredericton for a medical appointment, we found our selves in the middle of a police lock down,but we were safe, well away from the crime scene.
The perp is a male Caucasion who fired on his ex girl friend and boyfriend, killing them both. He also fired on and killed two police officers at the scene, one a Rob Costello and the other Sarah May Burns.The perp used a rifle.
The ERT ( SWAT) responded with an armored vehicle using tear gas to flush the perp and subsequently the perp took three rounds to the chest in the following assault on his apartment on the top floor. The perp is now in ICU and two other civilians were critically injured and are being treated.
I live on the south side of Fredericton. This happened on the other side of the river, in an area that is somewhat rundown and (mildly) slummy. All kinds of wild rumors going around right now.
Sad but when a country brings in police officers who in most likelihood had zero previous experience with firearms due to their filthy gun laws this is not unexpected.
Four civilians died.
Fixed it.
Licensed Gun owners in Canada are about to suffer
Sad for the losses.
But, I have to ask....”partner”?
Sucks, eh? :(
Still hurting from the 3 gunned down in Moncton and now this.
Once you are in custody, isn’t your name a matter of public record?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Not in Canada, we may not know his ID until he is arraigned.
But likely the perp will be ID’d once the investigation is completed in a few days or so.
This case has been locked down tighter that a witch’s rectum.
Why?
There is a continuing issue in Canada of LEOs being outgunned, they do not carry rifles in their squad cars as a matter of course.Nor are LEOS allowed to carry weapons off duty. Canada has stringent gun control laws, and now the liberals have already begun to call for a gun ban after similar shootings in Toronto this summer. This one will make their caterwauling louder, even though the strict laws did not stop this perp.As we know, strict gun control laws do not work. In this case the police were outgunned because of current LE policies.
But, I have to ask....”partner”?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Patrol partner.
But, I have to ask
You had to or wanted to, big dif
That is a concern I have.
New Brunswick is made for hunters though.
I believe there would be an extremely large backlash at any attempt to seize firearms.
No. The article specifically mentioned the female officer left behind a husband and children. But the male officer was stated as leaving behind a partner and children. So was he unmarried with kids or playing for the other team with kids?
No.
It stated, “survived by his partner and 4 children.”
He certainly wasn’t survived by his work partner. At least I don’t think. Besides, I’ve never seen such a thing written.
Post #5 suggests this was a domestic or lovers quarrel. Does that fit with the rumors?
What a rough day for a town. It seems from what I read on Twitter these officers were loved and appreciated. A local journalist stopped his reporting when he learned one of the leo’s was a friend of his.
You'll be happy to know another website referred to his "common law partner" as "her."
Now let's not jump to conclusions... /s
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