Advertisement

Police officer, 2nd man killed in shooting in Lac-Simon, Que.

Quebec mourns death of Lac-Simon police officer

Quebec provincial police have identified the officer shot dead Saturday in Lac-Simon as Thierry Leroux, 26, of Amos.

He had been a member of the Lac-Simon aboriginal police force for only six months.

Joseph Anthony Raymond-Papatie, 22, was found dead, apparently of a self-inflicted wound, shortly after Leroux was shot.

The deaths have left the small Algonquin community 500 km northwest of Montreal in a state of shock.

According to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), two members of the Lac-Simon aboriginal police force were called to respond to a domestic disturbance about 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

As they approached the home, a shot was fired from inside, striking Leroux. He was taken to hospital in Val-d'Or, where he died.

Raymond-Papatie was found dead inside the home from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot, said Benoît Coutu, a spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec.

Members of the community marched Sunday afternoon to the house and the police station.

The march started with speeches at Lac-Simon's community centre.

People placed roses in front of the Lac-Simon aboriginal police force's station to commemorate Leroux's death.

Police did not return fire

Coutu said the responding police officers did not return fire after they were shot at.

Police have opened an investigation into the shooting. Under Quebec law, any incident involving a police officer in which a firearm is discharged must be investigated by a different police force.

Lac-Simon band officials have put a crisis team in place to deal with the aftermath of the shooting. The band council met this afternoon.

The SQ is also providing support to the community and police officers, said Coutu.

Police officers across Canada have taken to social media to express their condolences to the Lac-Simon police force and to the officer's family.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard also tweeted his condolences, adding that provincial Aboriginal Affairs Minister Geoffrey Kelley was in contact with the community.

Leroux is originally from Amos, about 100 kilometres northwest of Lac-Simon.