(UPDATE: Aug. 11 @ 11 a.m.) - A 48-year-old man has been charged with four counts of first degree murder in relation to Friday’s shooting in Fredericton.
The suspect, Matthew Vincent Raymond, was shot by police and is receiving treatment in hospital.
The deadly shooting resulted in the deaths of four people, including two police officers. They have been identified as Lawrence Robert Costello, age 43, and Sara Mae Helen Burns, age 45.
The two other victims were identified as Bobbie Lee Wright and Donnie Robichaud. Wright and Robichaud were in a new relationship according to Robichaud’s cousin, Sean Callahan. They had just started seeing each other at the beginning of August.
(UPDATE: Aug. 10 @ 2:15 p.m.) - The two officers who died in this morning's shooting in Fredericton, N.B. have been identified.
Lawrence Robert Costello, 43, and Sara Mae Helen Burns, 45, were among four people killed.
Our deepest condolences to the families of our fallen members 45-year-old Lawrence Robert Costello and 43-year-old Sara Mae Helen Burns and the other victims in this morning's shootings. pic.twitter.com/9TeWn5OqWx
— Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018
The other two victims haven't been identified and neither has the suspect, who suffered "serious injuries," according to Fredericton Police.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expanded on his brief early morning statement about the incident this afternoon.
There is no greater gesture than to put oneself in harm’s way to protect the life of another. This morning, first responders rushed to the scene of danger. They did not think twice about what they had to do to keep their fellow Canadians safe. They were unflinching in their duty. We will not forget the two fallen police officers whose sacrifice no doubt saved lives and prevented even greater tragedy.
Tributes from across the country poured in today and will surely continue to do so.
NowMedia will update this story as more information is made available.
(Original story: Aug. 10 @ 6:40 a.m.) - Four people are dead, including a pair of police officers, in an early morning shooting in Fredericton, N.B.
Police initially asked the public to avoid the area of Brookside Drive at 7:47 a.m. ADT, recommending people “stay in their homes with doors locked.”
Fredericton Police are responding Brookside Drive area. The public is asked to avoid the area and stay in their homes with doors locked at this time for their safety.
— Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018
Thirty minutes later, at 8:17 a.m., it was confirmed that a shooting incident was ongoing and there had been multiple fatalities.
At 9:45 a.m., Fredericton Police confirmed they had one suspect in custody and that the investigation would continue along Brookside Drive.
Re: Shooting. At this time, we can confirm multiple fatalities. The incident is ongoing. More information will be available when we can. Please continue to avoid the area of Brookside Drive between Main and Ring Road.
— Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018
UDPATE: At this time we can confirm that we have one suspect in custody.
— Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018
Police continue to have the Brookside area contained for the foreseeable future as the investigation is ongoing.
Please continue to avoid the area and follow us for the facts.
They then shared this difficult information shortly before 10:30 a.m.
“Of the four people killed in this morning's shootings on Brookside Drive, two were Fredericton Police officers,” tweeted the force’s official account.
“No names are being released at this time. Please appreciate this is a difficult time for their families and our colleagues.”
Of the four people killed in this morning's shootings on Brookside Drive, two were Fredericton Police officers. No names are being released at this time. Please appreciate this is a difficult time for their families and our colleagues. We will provide more info when we can.
— Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018
Although it came before the news that two of the victims being Fredericton Police officers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a brief statement about the incident on Twitter.
“Awful news coming out of Fredericton,” he wrote. “My heart goes out to everyone affected by this morning’s shooting. We’re following the situation closely.”
NowMedia will continue to update this story as more information is made available.
Thumbnail photo courtesy of Mark Gillan on Twitter.
