Rideau Hall suspect faces 22 charges
OTTAWA • A clearer picture emerged Friday of what happened during the two hours between the Canadian Armed Forces member Corey Hurren ramming through the gates of Rideau Hall, armed with “several weapons,” and his arrest without incident Thursday on the grounds of the official residences housing Gov. Gen. Julie Payette and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Mike Duheme told reporters at a Friday press conference that the suspect — identified by media as Corey Hurren, a reservist from Manitoba on a full-time contract with the Canadian Forces — was facing 22 criminal charges, including possession of a loaded weapon.
Duheme confirmed the suspect was armed with “several weapons” but declined to provide specifics, though he later made repeated references to a rifle.
At 6:30 a.m. Thursday, a lone man in a black pickup truck crashed through Thomas Gate, the main pedestrian entrance at 1 Sussex Dr. The impact with the gate disabled the truck and triggered the vehicle’s airbags.
National Capital Commission workers noticed the vehicle breach and notified the onsite security commissionaires, who approached the area and saw the male walking with “what appeared to be a firearm.”
The facility was placed on lockdown, and RCMP members started dialogue with the suspect at 6:45. He responded at 6:53, and for more than 90 minutes “a constant dialogue was maintained,” concluding with the suspect’s arrest at 8:30 a.m.
Hurren, 46, was charged with four counts each of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession in a motor vehicle, careless use, storage and handling of a firearm, and contravening firearms transport regulations.
He faces one count of possession of a restricted weapon for a dangerous purpose, and is charged with possessing a restricted firearm and a prohibited device while knowing both are unauthorized.
He is charged with two counts of possessing a loaded prohibited firearm without authorization to possess the firearm. He is charged with one count of possessing weapons at an unauthorized place, and one count of uttering threats.
“I want to make it very clear that there are many elements that I am not in a position to speak to, as the RCMP’S investigation is ongoing,” said Duheme. “As soon as the RCMP is in a position to do so, we will release the details for these charges."
According to Duheme, the suspect is currently believed to have been acting alone, and wasn’t previously known to police.
Hurren remains in custody in Ottawa following a brief court appearance by teleconference Friday. Defence lawyer Michael Davies made a request for disclosure from the Crown and scheduled his next hearing for July 17.