British Columbia Premier David Eby says three's been a critical incident involving RCMP in the Metro Vancouver suburb of Coquitlam. Eby speaks during a news conference in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
COQUITLAM, B.C. – A decorated seven-year member of the RCMP has been shot dead during a confrontation while executing a search warrant in Coquitlam, B.C.
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald says 51-year-old Const. Rick O’Brien was killed and two other officers were injured, while a suspect was shot and is also in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
McDonald says O’Brien died at the scene.
Policing was a second career for O’Brien who worked with at-risk youth before joining the RCMP in 2016.
McDonald says O’Brien led by example, was respected by his peers, was loved in his community, had a great sense of humour and leaves behind a wife and children.
The commissioner says he’s outraged to see police officers killed across the country trying to protect their communities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2023.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said police were trying to serve an arrest warrant.
