Sooke man charged with manslaughter in shooting death of 42-year-old father
A Vancouver Island man is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, in the shooting death of a 42-year-old father of two young boys near Sooke, B.C., last year.
Sooke resident Mike Leier was found in medical distress in the 8500 block of West Coast Road, near Otter Point, around 9:45 p.m. on March 12, 2023.
Mounties arrived on scene to find the man had died, police said in a statement at the time.
"Preliminary investigations revealed the man was likely injured in a remote wilderness area near Jordan River," the statement said, noting investigators did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the public.
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit took conduct of the suspicious death investigation with assistance from the Sooke RCMP.
Now one year later, Adam John Steenbergen, who was born in 1990, has been charged with one count of manslaughter with a firearm, one count of careless use of a firearm, and two counts of loading a prohibited or restricted firearm, according to court records.
Heather Leier, the victim's wife, confirmed the man's identity to CTV News following the shooting.
Family and friends of the slain man set up an online fundraiser in the days after his death to help pay for funeral costs and child care.
"The community has lost such an incredible person. He was a husband, father, friend and a son," the fundraising page said. "He will be missed dearly and has left such an impact on so many people's hearts."
Steenbergen is scheduled to appear in Western Communities provincial court on March 28.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.