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2 dead, 2 wounded in shooting over 'ongoing neighbour dispute' in Stratford, Ont.

Two people are dead and two were sent to hospital with serious injuries after a man opened fire on his neighbours following a dispute in Stratford, Ont., on Thursday night.Police said Friday the dead include the 31-year-old shooter.

Police received multiple calls about gunshots around 10:45 p.m. ET Thursday

2 people killed, 2 wounded in Stratford, Ont., shooting

2 months ago
Duration 1:59
Two people were killed and another two were sent to hospital with serious injuries after a man opened fire on his neighbours after a dispute in Stratford, Ont., Thursday night. Police say 31-year-old Ricky Bilcke shot the three victims before turning the gun on himself.

WARNING: This story contains references to violence and suicide.

Two people are dead and two were sent to hospital with serious injuries after a man opened fire on his neighbours following a dispute in Stratford, Ont., on Thursday night, police say.

Police received multiple 911 calls for reports of gunshots in the area of Bradshaw Drive and McCarthy Road Westaround 10:45 p.m. ET.

Police who arrived on the scenefound four people with gunshot wounds. Two of them died and the other two were taken by an Orngeair ambulance to Victoria Hospital in London.

One person has life-threatening injuries and the other has life-altering injuries.

On Friday afternoon, police said 31-year-old Ricky Bilcke"opened fire and shot the three victims after being involved in an ongoing neighbour dispute."

Bilckedied of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, they said.

Area closed for investigation

Police saidBilckeused a high-powered rifle to shoot Jonathan Bennett, 36, after a dispute. Bennett was pronounced dead at hospital.

"[Bilcke] then accessed a shotgun and entered onto the roadway where he shot the second victim ... who is currently in hospital receiving treatment for life-threatening injuries," police said.

The two injured individuals are a 43-year-old man and a woman, whose age was not given, who had "exited her residence and was targeted and shot by the shooter."

The area around Bradshaw Drive will be closed Friday for the investigation. Officers with the Stratford Police Service will becanvassing the area looking for video and witness statements.

The police service said it wanted to "send condolences to the victims, their families, loved ones and all others impacted by this incident."

Police added they are aware of multiple videos of the shooting that have been posted to social media.

"Out of respect to the victims of this incident and the trauma this has caused to all people involved, we ask that those videos be removed," police said.

Anyone with information that mayhelp with the investigation is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers. Thosein need of help can reach out to Victim Services of Huron Perth.

'They're shaken.... They're not feeling safe'

Bob Roth was sitting is his backyard Thursday night with his wife, chatting about their days,when "we heard three shotgun blasts and shortly after three smaller rounds from a smaller type of gun." He also told CBC News that he then decided to call police.

Roth said something like this is not expected in a "nice, relatively small town" like Stratford.

WATCH | Neighbours react to shooting:

'They're shaken': Neighbourhood on edge after fatal Stratford shooting

2 months ago
Duration 1:05
Sam Ahmad describes what he heard and says neighbourhood is still reeling after Stratford shooting left two dead and two in hospital.

"Stuff like this happens everywhere it's just, it happens a lot morewhenthere's a lot morepeople ...in the big city."

Sam Ahmad was walking his dog when he heard the shots. He thought they were fireworks, but when he went out later and saw the police cars, he knew there had beengunshots.

"The whole neighbourhood, they're not happyabout it.They're shaken," Ahmad told CBC News.

"The kids ... they're not feeling safe," he said, adding hearing gunshots in your own neighbourhood "it's a big thing."


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