‘WHEN I CHOSE TO JOIN THE RCMP, I WAS NOT A TEENAGER, I WAS AN ADULT, SO IT WAS MY DECISION TO ACCEPT THE RISK. IF I HAVE TO DIE, I WILL DIE’ — CONST. ERIC DUBOIS TESTIFYING AT MONCTON RAMPAGE TRIAL.
Mountie testifies about Moncton shooting
MONCTON, N.B. • A Mountie, who was wounded during a shooting rampage in Moncton, N.B., said he has “absolutely no doubt” he could have downed Justin Bourque had he been armed with a carbine rather than his pistol.
Testifying at the RCMP’s Labour Code trial Monday, Const. Eric Dubois recalled crouching behind his cruiser, wounded and bleeding, as Bourque opened fired on officers on June 4, 2014.
He said he watched Bourque for roughly four seconds as the gunman casually walked across a road.
Dubois told Moncton provincial court he had started his shift at 7 p.m. and, about 30 minutes later, heard reports of an armed man wearing camouflage walking down the road.
He responded to the scene armed only with his 9mm pistol. But when Bourque crossed his line of vision, he was out of the pistol’s range, he said.
When asked by prosecutor Paul Adams if having carbines would have made a difference that evening, Dubois said: “There is absolutely no doubt in my mind.”
“He would have gone down,” said Dubois, based on training he received on carbines after the shooting.
“Everything would have been different. As soon as he started firing at us, we were feeling like the hunted ... We knew we didn’t have the firepower to respond.”
Dubois said he had rushed to the scene to assist Const. Martine Benoit, whose police cruiser was under fire, when he was hit while crouched behind his vehicle. He saw blood coming from holes in his pants and shirt.
At one point he broke down in tears, telling the court he went against his training — which taught him to keep himself safe — and instead decided to put his own life at risk to try to help a fellow officer.
“When I chose to join the RCMP, I was not a teenager, I was an adult, so it was my decision to accept the risk,” said Dubois, who joined the force in 2010 after working more than two decades at a paper company.
“If I have to die, I will die.”
Dubois required surgery after being hit on his left bicep, his lower left leg and upper right leg.
The national police force is accused of violating the Labour Code for allegedly failing to provide members and supervisors with the appropriate information, instruction, equipment and training in an active-shooter event.
Dubois also recalled seeing an officer dragging a lifeless Const. Fabrice Gevaudan, and rushing over to assist.
“There was nothing I could do.”
Gevaudan and constables Doug Larche and Dave Ross were killed, while Dubois and Const. Darlene Goguen were wounded when Bourque used a semi-automatic rifle to target police officers in Moncton’s northwest end.
Later Monday, Mountie Simon Grenier testified that he had taken the day off on June 4, 2014.
Choking back tears, Grenier said he was outside his home enjoying the nice weather when his neighbour ran over to say something had happened.
Grenier, a former member of the Canadian Forces who now works on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s security detail, said he “kissed the kids” and rushed into the station to put on his gear and grab a weapon and vehicle.
Grenier said he wanted a C8 carbine, but was told none were available, so he took a 308 rifle. He explained that he wanted a carbine because they are more accurate and easier to handle than a rifle.
He and another officer headed to the scene, and at one point they saw the police cruiser of Ross — a man Grenier described as a friend.
“There was a pool of blood right by the driver door,” said Grenier, bowing his head on the witness stand.
Bourque, who was targeting police in an effort to start an antigovernment rebellion, was sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 75 years.
The Labour Code trial continues Tuesday.
WHEN I CHOSE TO JOIN THE RCMP, I WAS NOT A TEENAGER, I WAS AN ADULT, SO IT WAS MY DECISION TO ACCEPT THE RISK.