Justin Bourque makes first appearance in court
Posted Jun 6, 2014 3:22 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The man accused of the horrific shootings in Moncton, New Brunswick, has made his first court appearance.
Justin Bourque appeared in a Moncton courtroom Friday, after being arrested shortly after midnight inside a police perimeter in the city after one of the worst mass shootings in the RCMP’s history.
The 24-year-old is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of three RCMP officers and two counts of attempted murder after a shooting spree in Moncton.
He appeared in court, packed with about 70 people, under heavy guard.
A tactical officer with an automatic rifle stood at the back of the courtroom.
His appearance lasted about five minutes and Bourque did not speak or show any emotion, staring forward at the judge.
At an earlier press conference, the mother of Dave Ross, one of the three RCMP officers who died, called her 32-year-old son a hero, saying he died doing what he loved.
“I just want to say thank you for all of your support,” Elaine Rousseau said. “We are going to need your prayers.”
Ross’ mother also said she’s glad a suspect was arrested in connection with the Moncton shooting, because there could have been a lot of other victims.
Rousseau added that despite the tragedy, the 24-year-old should be forgiven, adding that justice will take care of him.
