Otterburne witness recollects Wednesday’s harrowing events
Randy Bechard, a resident of Otterburne, owns a home with his family of four on College Crescent, located on the Providence University College campus. Bechard has worked here for the past two years as the college’s maintenance technician.
On June 5, at approximately 1:45 a.m., Bechard woke up with a start to what sounded like a series of gunshots.
“I got up still wondering if I’d actually heard it or if it was a dream,” Bechard says. “Within seconds, I saw headlights in my window and I saw one vehicle. I didn’t see any [flashing lights]. They went past my hedges and then they were gone. It all happened really fast.”
The cracks which broke the night silence weren’t the only thing that left Bechard feeling uneasy. Seeing a vehicle on campus property in the middle of the night was also unusual since the campus is currently devoid of students, leaving few people to be coming and going at that time of night.
Bechard silenced the home’s furnace fan and opened a window, waiting while his young family slept nearby. He heard nothing more and, eventually, went back to bed.
The next morning, Bechard and his young son ventured out onto the campus to begin the workday. It wasn’t long before he spotted a set of truck tire tracks in the area of a campus barn located near his home. The grass was also torn up in areas.
Later, Bechard heard about bullet holes which had penetrated the barn walls, proof of the shots he’d heard just hours earlier.
By 7:00 a.m., a contingent of RCMP vehicles descended on campus, cordoning off an area leading up to the barn. They ran forensics while Bechard stood by, curious. Throughout the day he was required to give three statements to various RCMP and investigators.
Only through conversations with others on campus did the reality of what Bechard witnessed begin to hit him. The proximity of his family to these seasoned criminals, as well as the shootout that ended in one’s death, left him unnerved.
“They were just across the yard from me,” Bechard says. “I’m just thinking about my family and feeling kind of vulnerable. I’m very thankful that no one on campus was hurt and there weren’t any students around. I’m also thankful for the RCMP and the police. Unfortunately, someone lost their life, but it could have been worse for everyone.”
The Citizen reached out to Niverville’s fire and EMS services for comment on their attendance at the scene in Niverville Wednesday morning. They were called in when RCMP discovered a man in the stolen vehicle with a gunshot wound. Unfortunately, EMS were unable to resuscitate the individual and he was pronounced dead on site.
They declined comment, deferring all requests for information to the RCMP’s communications division.
Mayor Myron Dyck provided a brief statement in their place.
“We are thankful for our first responders and their service to the Town of Niverville,” Dyck says. “They have a tough job to do and do it well. We want to thank residents as well for their understanding and patience in this time.”
Brenda Sawatzky, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Niverville Citizen
