Police release name of man facing 4 counts of 1st-degree murder in Fredericton shooting

Police investigating the fatal shootings of a Fredericton couple and the two police officers trying to help them say they have not determined if there was a link between the suspect and the victims.

At a news conference Saturday afternoon, police said they were looking for a connection between shooting suspect Matthew Vincent Raymond and the couplewho died,Donald AdamRobichaud, 42, and Bobbie Lee Wright, 32.

"That is a piece of information that we're looking to establish," said Martin Gaudet, deputy chief of Fredericton police.

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Raymond, 48, of Fredericton, was charged early Saturday with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Const. Lawrence Robert (Robb) Costello, 45, andConst. Sara Mae Helen Burns, 43, Robichaud and Wright.

Fredericton police ID suspect, victims in shooting

6 years ago

Duration 2:13

Fredericton police have released the name of the suspect in the Friday shooting deaths of four people, including two police officers. Matthew Vincent Raymond has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder.

Robichaud and Wright were in a relationship, according to Wright's Facebook page.

Fredericton police Chief Leanne Fitch confirmed all four were hit by bullets from a long gun fired from the third storey of an apartment building on the north side of Fredericton.Fitch would not be more specific about the gun and said the police do not know whether it belonged to Raymond.

The police chief said, "Everyone in our community is hurting with the death of our four citizens," Fitch said.

CBCNews has learned Raymond had been living for four months at237CBrooksideDrive, the apartment building where the shooting occurred.

Herode his bicycle everywhere, according to Judith Aguilar, office manager withSunfieldApartment Rentals, which ownsthe apartment building.

She said Raymond always came into her office to pay rent with a smile and made small talk to the staff.

Raymond is scheduled to make a court appearanceAug.27.

He was arrestedFridayand taken to hospital with serious injuries after being shot by police. He remains in hospital in serious but stable condition.

Initially, the hospital and Fredericton police indicated others were also being treated for gunshot wounds. Buton Saturday, RCMP clarified that no one else was wounded in the shooting apart from the four dead and the suspect, who was shot by police.

How the Fredericton shooting unfolded

6 years ago

Duration 2:06

The National looks at how the Fredericton shooting unfolded, using information provided by police and witness accounts.

Costello and Burns were shot after being the first officers to respond to a call about shots being fired at an apartment complex on the 200 block ofBrooksideDrive in the city's north end at 7:10 a.m. AT.

Police said they wereshot as they approached Robichaud and Wright, who were lying on the ground outside one of the apartment buildings. The police force was undergoing a shift change when the shooting happened.

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The homicide investigation has now been taken over by theRCMP, but Fitch said Fredericton police would be assisting.

Anyone with photos or video footage of the events that transpired Friday morning onBrooksideisbeing asked toupload images and video to this police website.

Urges public not to speculate

Although she provided few new details about the incident, Fitch pleaded with people in the city of 58,000 not to speculate about what happened.

"It will be up to the investigators to determine what led to yesterday's shootings. Please know that this is a complex investigation and it must be thorough in nature.

"I ask residents not to speculateplease I can't stress that enough media and residentsplease don't speculate. Please let all our investigators do their work and find the facts that need to be found."

Fredericton Mayor Mike O'Brien, at the same news conference, acknowledged criticism of the city's minimum amount of of communication with the public.

"There was some criticism about lack of information coming out but that's because the investigation is still going on," O'Brien said.

PM tovisit Fredericton

O'Brien went on to talk about the healing of the city and pointed to itsPride parade on Sunday.

"Those things are important to show that we still exist as a community, we still have people that we look after,and there's a way to celebrate even in the midst of this grief."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in Fredericton on Sunday for the Pride parade and a youth forum later in the day.

Witness to Fredericton shooting: I wanted to do something to help

6 years ago

Duration 2:37

David MacCoubrey, one of the witnesses to the shooting in Fredericton, says at one point he felt like taking a knife outside to try and do something to help police apprehend the suspect. Speaking to The National, MacCoubrey recounts the shooting, and how upsetting it was to know people were dying.

Police were dispatched to the Brooksideapartment complex after witnesses reported shots being fired.

Some people in the area said they heard dozens of shots around 7 a.m.

Policeset up a perimeter, and the neighbourhood was sealed off while residents were told to stay inside.

At 9:30 a.m., police entered an apartment and arrested Raymond. A window on the top floor of the building showed holes left by tear gas canisters.

Police declared the threat to the neighbourhood over at about 11 a.m.

Apartment buildings in the area were evacuated. Gaudet said he's hopeful residents will be able to return home Monday.

Local force gets help

Ross White, chief superintendent of the New Brunswick RCMP, said the major crimes division assisted local police in the investigation Friday.

Police officers from other agencies across the province will be patrolling the city in the coming days and weeks to provide some relief to the force.

Details about funeral arrangements will be announced later, Fitch said.

A vigil is scheduled in front of City Hallat 7 p.m. on Saturday.