By Canadian Press

RCMP officers describe chaotic scene, concern for safety after Fredericton shootings

Oct 1, 2020 | 9:52 AM

FREDERICTON — Members of an RCMP team who responded to a mass killing in Fredericton two years ago have described a chaotic scene where they thought their lives could be in danger.

Three officers testified this morning at the trial of Matthew Raymond, who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Donnie Robichaud, Bobbie Lee Wright and Fredericton police constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns on Aug. 10, 2018.

The defence has acknowledged that Raymond killed the victims, who were shot in the parking lot of an apartment complex, but says he should be found not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder.

Cpl. Jean-Francois Comeau was among the officers who stormed into Raymond’s apartment and said at one point he saw the barrel of a rifle pointing directly at him.

Comeau told the jury he was holding his ballistic shield as he jumped on the suspect and started punching him in the head until other officers had him restrained and the weapon removed.

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Other officers with the emergency response team described their efforts to enter the apartment and the fear that more shots would be fired.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2020.

The Canadian Press