The suspect believed to have opened fire on a Canadian Border Services Agency officer Tuesday before taking his own life has been identified as a 32-year-old tattoo artist.
Authorities believe Washington State resident Andrew Michael Crews opened fire on unarmed CBSA agent Lori Bowcock at the Peace Arch border crossing then turned the gun on himself.
His next of kin has been notified.
CTV News has learned that Crews grew up in Las Vegas, and had lived in Bremerton, Wash. before recently moving to the Seattle area, where he worked at the Lucky Boys tattoo parlour.
Homicide investigators are still working to determine a motive for the shooting.
“The current evidence clearly indicates that prior to taking his own life, Mr. Crews deliberately fired at the victim,” Sgt. Jennifer Pound said in a release. “There is no evidence however to suggest the victim was specifically targeted.”
The Seattle Times has reported that Crews texted his mother days before the shooting to say that he loved her and that he was sorry. His family tried to reach out to him after the message, but couldn’t get in contact.
The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office visited Crews’ old home in Bremerton to search for clues, but have so far turned up nothing.
Deputy Scott Wilson said authorities are taking a cautious approach to the search.
“Is the place booby trapped? We don’t know, so we have to sit back and not rush into the situation. We’re going to watch the house for a bit, see who’s coming and going,” Wilson said.
The circumstances of the shooting were unclear on Tuesday, and made muddier Wednesday morning when the union representing border guards suggested Bowcock may have been shot accidentally by a stray bullet.
The union retracted that statement later in the day, and police confirmed they believe the shooting was deliberate.
Bowcock, who had only been on the job a few months after moving to B.C. from Ontario, was hit in the neck. The extend of her injuries is unknown, but she is currently listed in stable condition in hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
The border was closed for more than 24 hours, but the southbound crossing reopened at 4 p.m. The northbound crossing is expected to open at 8 a.m. Thursday.
With reports from CTV British Columbia’s Lisa Rossington and Scott Roberts
