OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR FREDERICTON
Mourners continue to add flowers, notes and teddy bears to the memorial outside Fredericton’s police headquarters Monday, as the usually placid New Brunswick capital grapples with the shooting deaths of four people, including two officers.
People dropped off coffee and snacks for officers, while others handed out cookies in the midst of the emotional crime scene at a north-side apartment complex.
Friday morning’s shooting claimed the lives of Bobbie Lee Wright, Donnie Robichaud, and responding officers Const. Robb
Costello and Const. Sara Burns.
Outside police headquarters, people stopped to sign a giant Canadian flag hanging outside the station or add to the growing memorial of flowers, cards, and messages that has been building since Friday.
Nancy Slade, back home for a visit from Petawawa, Ont., came to lay sunflowers with her sixyear-old daughter, Molly, and three-year-old son, Dane.
Slade, the daughter of a Fredericton police officer who was friends with Costello, said she wants her kids to understand the sacrifice made by officers.
“It’s just not supposed to happen here,” she said, her voice catching. “It’s never happened here, so it’s just really hard.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his son, Hadrien, went Sunday to police headquarters to lay flowers at the memorial and offer words of solidarity.
Police Chief Leanne Fitch issued a statement on Sunday thanking the public for their support over the past few days.
At Fredericton city hall Monday, a steady trickle of visitors arrived to sign books of condolences for the fallen police constables.
Many left in tears after seeing the simple display, which featured photos of the officers set next to two candles and a bouquet of white flowers.
Jane Abernathy, who lives in Fredericton, said she felt compelled to show her respect.
“Such a senseless tragedy, we never want this to happen again,” she said. “It was the least I could do, to sign my name.”
A public event planned for Monday evening, Hands and Hearts Across the City, asked residents to meet and join hands on the walking bridge spanning the St. John River as a tribute to the victims.
Matthew Vincent Raymond has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder. The 48-yearold is set to appear in court on Aug. 27.
A Fredericton business owner who knew Raymond described him as a “lonely person” who spent much of his time cycling and playing first-person shooter video games.