Murder charge laid in killing of B.C. Mountie
One day after the shooting death of RCMP Const. Rick O'Brien in Coquitlam, B.C., a murder charge has been laid.
Nicholas Bellemare, a 25-year-old Coquitlam man, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder with a firearm.
The Lower Mainland's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced the charge in a news release Saturday afternoon.
IHIT is leading the investigation into the shooting of O'Brien and second RCMP officer who was wounded during an altercation in Coquitlam around 10 a.m. Friday.
The officers were executing a search warrant related to a drug investigation originating in Maple Ridge, IHIT said.
A third officer was also injured during the incident. The two wounded officers were taken to hospital and have since been released, according to police.
The suspect was also shot and wounded during the incident, and the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has been called to investigate the actions of police.
First-degree murder is the charge applied to all killings of peace officers under the Criminal Code, regardless of whether the accused's actions were premeditated.
Bellemare remains in custody. Online court records indicate his next appearance is scheduled for Oct. 3.
O'Brien's death has shocked and saddened the law enforcement community in B.C. and around the country. It comes less than a year after the on-duty death of Burnaby RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang, and just two days before the annual gathering at the B.C. Law Enforcement Memorial in Victoria to honour fallen officers.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the commanding officer of the B.C. RCMP, said Friday that police were "gutted" by the news.
"He was truly exceptional – a hard-worker and a good human being," said Supt. Wendy Mehat, the officer in charge of the Ridge Meadows detachment, where O'Brien spent all seven years of his RCMP career.
"His death is senseless and heart-breaking."
Condolences also poured in from provincial and federal officials, including Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In his organization's statement Saturday, IHIT officer-in-charge Supt. Mandeep Mooker added his sympathies.
"This is a profound loss and I understand it will have a lasting effect on Const. O’Brien’s family, friends, colleagues and the community," said Mooker. "We wish to send our sincere condolences to everyone impacted by this tragic event."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING Claims of toxic workplace at CSIS absolutely 'devastating': PM says
Allegations of a toxic workplace culture, involving harassment and sexual assault at Canada's spy agency are 'devastating' and 'absolutely unacceptable,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday.
Alberta set for $5.5B budget surplus, despite big bucks for fires, floods and drought
Alberta’s budget surplus is growing but will be offset by more than $1 billion this year to pay for floods, forest fires and drought.
Here's when Canada Post says you should send out your holiday packages
Canada Post had released a holiday guide on when Canadians should mail out their packages.
TREND LINE Liberals and NDP tied in ballot support, Conservatives 19 points ahead: Nanos
The governing minority Liberals' decline in the polls has now placed them in a tie for support with their confidence-and-supply partners the NDP, while the Conservatives are now 19 points ahead, according Nanos' latest ballot tracking.
2023 Atlantic hurricane season ends; finishes 4th for most-named storms
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season comes to an end on Thursday as the fourth
More Israeli hostages freed by Hamas as truce in Gaza lasts another day
Hamas began freeing Israeli hostages Thursday in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of a last-minute deal to extend their ceasefire in Gaza by another day. But any further renewal of the truce, now in its seventh day, could prove more daunting since Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining hostages.
What to know about the Sikh independence movement following U.S. accusation that activist was targeted
The U.S. has charged an Indian national in what prosecutors allege was a failed plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist at the behest of an unnamed Indian government official.
Alternative healer faces manslaughter charge over woman's death at a U.K. slapping therapy workshop
An alternative healer who advocates a technique known as 'slapping therapy' was charged Thursday over the death of a woman at one of his workshops in England seven years ago.
Chinstrap penguins nod off more than 10,000 times per day in seconds-long 'microsleeps,' study finds
A new study has documented the peculiar sleeping habits of this species of penguin. Instead of taking one long continuous period of sleep, chinstrap penguins prefer to sleep in seconds-long intervals, more than 10,000 times a day.