Deaths, injuries in Moncton shooting could have been avoided: Crown

The Crown at the RCMP’s Labour Code trial stemming from the Moncton, N.B., shooting rampage says at least some of the deaths and injuries could have been avoided had the force provided Mounties with the appropriate equipment and training.

Federal Crown prosecutor Paul Adams told Moncton provincial court on Tuesday that the officers who responded to Justin Bourque’s fatal shooting on June 4, 2014, were outgunned and at a tactical disadvantage.

Adams said in his closing arguments that a briefing note roughly seven years earlier had recommended the RCMP look at adopting patrol carbine rifles, and argued the force therefore knew front line officers were at risk. He argued evidence presented at the trial has established “without question” that the officers were not properly equipped or trained to deal with an active shooter incident.

The RCMP is accused of failing to provide the appropriate equipment and training in an active-shooter event.

Earlier Tuesday, RCMP lawyers argued the national police force exercised due diligence in arming general duty officers with C8 carbine rifles.

Defence lawyer Ian Carter said bureaucracy dictates how governments work and adopting patrol carbines for the RCMP took time for a number of reasons.