(Bourget) The small community of Bourget, Ont., was turned upside down Thursday when a 39-year-old man “ambushed” three police officers, opening fire at them with a long gun. One of the officers died, while charges were filed against the suspect.
Sergeant Eric Mueller, who had more than 20 years of law enforcement experience and was described as a mentor by his colleagues, died in hospital after sustaining serious injuries during the intervention .
During a press briefing, the Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, Thomas Carrique, mentioned that Sergeant Mueller was an exemplary police officer, as well as a good father. The policeman is survived by his wife and two children.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Police officer Eric Mueller died during the intervention.
“We are all heartbroken. He was a role model for others, someone who really united everyone,” said Mr. Carrique.
The other two officers involved – “veterans” of the police force – suffered serious injuries, but were in stable condition by midday. One of them was even discharged from the hospital in the early afternoon.
As for the suspect, Alain Bellefeuille, he was charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of Sergeant Mueller, as well as two counts of attempted murder.
“I call it an ambush”
The shooting occurred shortly after 2 a.m. in the Bourget area, located about fifty kilometers east of Ottawa. The police had been called to go to a residence on Laval Street, since a shot had been heard by a citizen.
Upon arrival at the scene, the three OPP officers were targeted by firearm projectiles. Frankly, Commissioner Carrique claimed that the three police officers had been “ambushed”.
PHOTO PATRICK DOYLE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
“It’s going to be part of the investigation, but for me, that’s exactly how I would describe what happened with the information I have,” Mr. Carrique said.
When three officers arrive on the scene, and within minutes they are shot, one is killed, another is seriously injured, and the third is injured to the point of needing medical attention. , I call that an ambush.
Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique
According to the police, only the officers were targeted by gunfire. The residence where the shooting took place would belong to the suspect, according to the first information provided by Mr. Carrique.
The suspect was not injured; he was arrested on the spot by a second group of police officers who had arrived as reinforcements.
A disrupted community
Thursday’s events have turned the daily lives of the population of this small community in Eastern Ontario upside down, where many young families are raising children and where conversations switch between French and English.
“You never think tragedies like this can happen near home, but when they do, it puts things into perspective,” said Madison Bach, who lives with her husband and their six-month-old daughter.
Helicopters flew over Bourget on Thursday morning and OPP vehicles blocked the long driveway leading to the Laval Street home where the shooting took place.
Dan Brown, who lives about four miles from said residence, heard the sound of police sirens and a series of loud bangs around 2 a.m. Thursday morning. A member of the nearby firing range, he immediately recognized the sound of gunfire.
“I immediately understood what was happening,” he said.
About 100 yards further on, Ashley Butler woke up to the sound of screeching tires followed by gunfire. She ran to her daughter’s room to make sure she was safe.
“I was terrified, but the first thing that goes through a parent’s head is to check that their child is okay. »
It wasn’t until later Thursday morning that she learned what had happened in her neighborhood.
Another police officer killed in Ontario
Sergeant Mueller is the fifth police officer to be shot and killed in Ontario since September.
On September 12, Toronto Police Constable Andrew Hong was shot dead inside a Tim Hortons in Mississauga. A month later, South Simcoe Police Constables Devon Northrup and Morgan Russell were killed after responding to a call in Innisfil.
Then, on December 27, Constable Greg Pierzchala was shot and killed in an ambush while responding to a call for a vehicle in a ditch.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was working with his justice and public safety ministers to find ways to protect police officers, given the spate of fatal shootings they have been involved in recently.
“For many months there have been far too many police officers across the country who have been killed on duty, protecting us. We need to do more to protect them,” he said.
With information from Laura Osman in Bourget