Michel Vienneau shooting death: still no answers from police - Action News
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New Brunswick

Michel Vienneau shooting death: still no answers from police

It's been close to two months since Michel Vienneau was killed by Bathurst police outside the city's Via Rail station and still, little is known about the actual series of events.

Vienneau was shot the morning of Jan.12 by a Bathurst police officer during an investigation

The area around the Via Rail station in Bathurst was cordoned off as Nova Scotia RCMP investigate the fatal shooting of Michel Vienneau by city police. (Bridget Yard/CBC)

It's been close to two months since Michel Vienneau was killed by Bathurst police outside the city's Via Rail station and still, little is known about the actual series of events.

Neither Bathurst city police nor New Brunswick RCMP are talking, but the investigating police force, Nova Scotia RCMP, says the events are still being scrutinized.

Vienneau was shot the morning of Jan.12 and all police said in the week that followed, was that Vienneau had been shot by a Bathurst police officer during an investigation. The investigation was being run along with New Brunswick RCMP.

Vienneau was pronounced dead at the Chaleur Regional hospital, and the area around the VIA Rail station was blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Police then asked for witnesses to come forward to help with the investigation.

On Tuesday, Nova Scotia RCMP said they have nothing more to add.

Officials said there will be an update once the investigation is over, but could not say when that would be.

In Tracadie, where Vienneau lived and worked, the community is still dealing with his death.

His store, Liaison Electronique, is open again and the economic development office in Tracadie says there may be a buyer for the business.

Residents had little to say about Vienneau himself. They say he was well-respected, but beyond that, people seem to be waiting for details of what actually happened in Bathurst.

His common law partner, Annick Basque, continues to wait as well, according to her lawyer Charles Leblanc.

Basque told the media her version of the events back in January. She said police had the wrong man and that after the couple got off a train, plain-clothes officers descended on her and Vienneau's vehicle.

She said in the commotion, she never heard the police identify themselves.

Vienneau then tried to drive away, leaving two communities with questions about what actually happened and three police forces that so far, don't have any answers.

Corrections

  • An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Annick Basque was the wife of Michel Vienneau. In fact, they were common law partners.
    Jul 23, 2015 6:29 PM AT