This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canada-shooting-gunman-still-on-the-loose-after-three-police-officers-killed-during-deadly-gun-battle-9489353.html

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Canada shooting: Gunman still on the loose after three police officers killed during deadly gun battle Canada shooting: Gunman on the loose after three police officers shot dead in gun battle
(35 minutes later)
People were urged to stay indoors as police launched a manhunt for a gunman who killed three police officers and injured two more in a rare case of gun violence in the east coast Canadian province of New Brunswick, officials said. A manhunt is under way in the Canadian city of Moncton after a gunman shot dead three members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and left two others injured.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Damien Theriault said police responded to a call about an armed man in the north end of the city of Moncton at 7.30pm Three officers were killed and two others sustained non-life threatening injuries and were in stable condition. Residents of Moncton, a city of about 69,000 people around 95 miles (150 kilometers) northeast of St. John, New Brunswick, have been warned to stay inside and lock their doors after a man identified as Justin Bourque, 24, went on a shooting rampage shortly before 19.20 local time (22:20 GMT).
“We are still actively looking for the shooter,” Theriault said. “He is believed to still be in the Pinehurst subdivision area of Moncton. We are urging people in that area to stay inside and lock their doors and for people to say away from that area.” The Royal Canadian Mounted police tweeted an image of the suspect wearing military camouflage and wielding two guns. Police in New Brunswick also confirmed on their Twitter feed that three officers had been killed and that two others had sustained 'non-life threatening' injuries.
Asked how he was dealing with his grief, Theriault said he personally knew the officers before breaking down and excusing himself because he couldn't complete his sentence. Police road blocks have been set up in the area and drivers have been warned to stay away.
Police said they were looking for 24-year-old Justin Bourque of Moncton - a city of about 69,000 people about 95 miles (150 kilometers) north-east of the capital of St. John, New Brunswick. The police force tweeted an image of a suspect wearing military camouflage and wielding two guns. In a macabre twist to the story a Facebook page, which appears to belong to the suspect, was active shortly before and during the city-wide manhunt.
Danny Leblanc, 42, said he saw the shooter wearing a camouflage outfit and standing in the middle of the street with his gun pointed at police cars. A post written 11 hours ago by Justin Bourque from Moncton featured the lyrics to the Megadeth song 'Hook in Mouth.'
The construction worker said he believed it was an RCMP officer he was looking at until he heard a burst of automatic gunfire coming from the man's gun. 'Don't try to fool us, we know the worst is yet to come. / I believe my kingdom will come,' the Facebook user wrote.
He said he quickly retreated into his home and remained there with his family. At one point a neighbour posted on social media that their kitchen window was shattered by gunfire. The account profile features a picture of two men holding rifles and standing in a wooded area and posts on the site make repeated reference to the right to bear arms and weaponery.  A number of posts appear to also display a dislike of the government and police.
A car sits on a road with it's windows shot out and blood on the ground Leblanc said few people on the normally quiet street were sleeping as they awaited word at midnight on whether arrests had been made. Bizarrely the Facebook user appears to have added two new friends to his account whilst on the run from police.
The hunt for Justin Bourque has continued into today.
"We are still actively looking for the shooter," Police Constable Damien Theriault told Associated Press.
"He is believed to still be in the Pinehurst subdivision area of Moncton. We are urging people in that area to stay inside and lock their doors and for people to stay away from that area."
Mr Theriault broke down when asked by reporters how he was dealing with grief, excusing himself from the press conference.
A car sits on a road with it's windows shot out and blood on the ground
Witness Danny Leblanc, 42, said he saw the shooter in the distance on Wednesday evening, wearing a camouflage outfit and standing in the middle of the street with his gun pointed at police cars.
The construction worker said he believed it was an RCMP officer until he heard a burst of automatic gunfire coming from the man's gun.
He said he quickly retreated into his home and remained there with his family. At one point a neighbor posted on social media that their kitchen window was shattered by gunfire.
Leblanc said few people on his normally quiet street were sleeping as they awaited word at midnight on whether an arrest had been made.
Word that police had been killed shocked the city, Leblanc said.Word that police had been killed shocked the city, Leblanc said.
“It's devastating. I don't know if he was on a hunt for them, or what,” he said. "It's devastating. I don't know if he was on a hunt for them, or what," he said.
Police had a number of roads in the city blocked and traffic was backed up on major arteries across the city. Drivers were also asked to stay out of the area.
Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc urged all residents to pay strict attention to the RCMP warnings.Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc urged all residents to pay strict attention to the RCMP warnings.
“It is a terrible tragedy,” he said. “We as a city must pull together as a family to support those who have suffered losses.” "It is a terrible tragedy," he said. "We as a city must pull together as a family to support those who have suffered losses."
Such violence is rare in Canada, particularly on Canada's East Coast. Such violence is rare in Canada, particularly on Canada's East Coast. Theriault said the city of Moncton didn't have a homicide last year or this year until Wednesday evening.
A police car with its rear window smashed Four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were shot and killed in the western Canadian province of Alberta in 2005 in the deadliest attack on Canadian police officers in 120 years. They had been investigating a farm in Mayerthrope, a small hamlet in Alberta when a man shot them before he was killed. "We have been blessed until this point," he told The Associated Press.
The Horizon Health Network, a provincial health authority, said two patients were taken to Moncton Hospital with gunshot wounds. Horizon Health said the two shooting victims are in stable condition. In a statement, New Brunswick Premier David Alward said he was "shocked and saddened".
Sean Gallacher, who lives near the area where police were concentrating their search, said he heard what he now believes were gunshots but initially thought his daughter had dropped some toys on the floor above him. "I would ask New Brunswickers, particularly in those areas identified by police, to follow the situation as it develops and to listen to the advice of police," he said.
“I was downstairs and heard a few bangs,” said Gallacher, 35. The shootings are likely to remind Canadians of a similiar incident in he western Canadian province of Alberta in 2005 where four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were killed.
Canadian Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney tweeted that he was “shocked by the tragedy” and that his thoughts and prayers were with frontline RCMP officers. It was the deadliest attack on Canadian police officers in 120 years.
AP They had been investigating a farm in Mayerthrope, a hamlet in Alberta, when a man shot them. The gunman was killed.
A police car with its rear window smashed
"It is a terrible tragedy," he said. "We as a city must pull together as a family to support those who have suffered losses."
Such violence is rare in Canada, particularly on Canada's East Coast. Theriault said the city of Moncton didn't have a homicide last year or this year until Wednesday evening.
"We have been blessed until this point," he told The Associated Press.
In a statement, New Brunswick Premier David Alward said he was "shocked and saddened".
"I would ask New Brunswickers, particularly in those areas identified by police, to follow the situation as it develops and to listen to the advice of police," he said.
The shootings are likely to remind Canadians of a similiar incident in he western Canadian province of Alberta in 2005 where four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were killed.
It was the deadliest attack on Canadian police officers in 120 years.
They had been investigating a farm in Mayerthrope, a hamlet in Alberta, when a man shot them. The gunman was killed.