Richmond, B.C., shooting victim gets 5-year sentence; whoever shot him remains at large
A 2019 shooting outside a mall in Richmond has led to a five-year prison sentence for the victim, while the perpetrator has not been caught.
Robert James Patrick Kinnear was shot outside a mall in Richmond on July 29, 2019, according to a sentencing decision in his case, which was issued earlier this month and posted online Wednesday.
While the decision doesn't specify the exact location where the shooting occurred, CTV News covered what police described at the time as a "targeted" shooting outside the Tim Hortons at CF Richmond Centre on that date.
Richmond RCMP confirmed to CTV News on Thursday that, to date, "no suspects have been identified and this incident remains unsolved."
According to Judge Reginald Harris' decision, police found Kinnear suffering from "multiple gunshot wounds."
"Officers attempted to provide Mr. Kinnear with medical attention and in doing so they tried to lower his pants and underwear," Harris wrote. "Mr. Kinnear resisted these efforts explaining he did not want to be exposed in public."
He was taken to Vancouver General Hospital, where his underwear were eventually lowered and the doctor treating him found a handgun, according to the decision.
"The barrel of the gun was in his buttocks and pointed upward toward his torso while the handle was pointed forward toward Mr. Kinnear’s testicles," Harris wrote.
The decision indicates that police seized the weapon, which they found was loaded with eight, nine-millimetre hollow point bullets, though the chamber did not have a bullet inside.
"Further examination of the firearm determined that it was a nine-millimetre Polymer 80 model PF940C semi-automatic partially made from a kit and without a serial number," Harris wrote. "At the time of the offence, Mr. Kinnear was bound by five lifetime prohibitions prohibiting him from possessing firearms."
THE SENTENCE
Kinnear pleaded guilty to possessing a restricted firearm. He told the court, through his lawyer, that he brought the weapon with him when going to meet with a man who had offered him money "as an apparent gesture of goodwill and willingness to resolve their differences."
"Despite being fearful of the man, Mr. Kinnear agreed to meet him," Harris wrote in his decision.
"However, and as a measure of protection, Mr. Kinnear brought the firearm with him."
Harris viewed Kinnear's assertion that the firearm was for protection as an indication that he was willing to use it, and noted in his analysis of the case that the presence of a loaded weapon in a public place creates "extreme" risks to everyone present in that space.
"Mr. Kinnear’s offence requires a sentence that denounces, deters and protects the public," Harris wrote. "Gun violence continues to increase throughout this province and all, including the courts, must respond with a view to protect the public. The sentence I impose must reflect this and reflect the seriousness of Mr. Kinnear’s conduct. Simply, his offence posed a serious threat to the community in that he brought a loaded gun to a meeting in a public location and he was prepared to use it to protect himself."
Both the Crown and Kinnear's defence agreed that a prison sentence was warranted, but they differed on how long it should be. Crown asked Harris to impose a five-year sentence, while the defence asked for three years.
The judge opted for the longer term, sentencing Kinnear to five years behind bars, with credit for nine months of time already spent in custody, leaving him with four years and three months left to serve.
Harris also ordered Kinnear to submit a DNA sample and imposed another lifetime ban on possessing firearms.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.