Nicholas Bellemare charged with murder in Coquitlam shooting of RCMP officer

A Coquitlam man has been charged in the killing of BC Mountie, Frederick O’Brien.

Charges have been approved against the shooting suspect 25-year-old Nicholas Bellemare, a resident of Coquitlam. Bellemare has been charged with one count of First Degree Murder and one count of Attempted Murder with a firearm. Bellemare has been remanded in custody.

On September 22, at approximately 10 am, Ridge Meadows RCMP officers were executing a warrant in Coquitlam in relation to a drug investigation originating from Maple Ridge. While there, the officers were engaged in an altercation with a man, when RCMP Officer Cst. O’Brien was fatally shot.

A second RCMP officer was shot and wounded in addition to a third officer who sustained injures during the course of the event. The two wounded officers were transported to hospital where they were treated for injuries. They have since been released and are recovering at home. Cst. O’Brien succumbed to his injuries on scene, despite the best efforts of BC Emergency Health Services.

During the altercation, the suspect was also shot and wounded. As a result, the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO BC) is running a concurrent investigation.

“This is a profound loss and I understand it will have a lasting effect on Cst. O’Brien’s family, friends, colleagues and the community,” says Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, Office- in-Charge of IHIT. “We wish to send our sincere condolences to everyone impacted by this tragic event.”