Mountie Testifies on Events Before Coquitlam Shooting That Killed Officer

Officer Recounts Moments Before Fatal Shooting

In the Supreme Court of British Columbia on December 11, 2025 an RCMP officer detailed the events leading up to the deadly shooting of Constable Rick O’Brien during a police raid in Coquitlam. Cst. O’Brien was killed in the September 22, 2023 incident when gunfire broke out inside a 22nd-floor condo the officers were entering as part of a drug investigation. 

The testimony came in the trial of Nicholas Bellemare, who is charged with first-degree murder for the killing of O’Brien and attempted murder for shooting another officer, Cpl. Colin Ryder. Bellemare is accused of opening fire with an AR-15 rifle as officers executed a search warrant at the building on Glen Drive. 

Testimony From Inside the Raid

Const. Ben Ouellette who entered the unit behind O’Brien and team leader Const. Amber Carlson described how officers were briefed that morning and split into teams for simultaneous raids at three locations. At the high-rise in Coquitlam the team of five waited out of sight of the door before attempting to enter. Ouellette said they expected to obtain a key from another site but were informed over the radio it could not be found. 

Carlson knocked on the door multiple times and announced they had a warrant before another officer breached it with a battering ram. Once the door opened, Ouellette said O’Brien entered first with his carbine raised, followed by Carlson and then himself carrying a Taser-style less-lethal weapon. Ouellette testified he heard rapid automatic gunfire moments after entry. 

O’Brien was struck in the face and fell. Officers then retreated and tended to the wounded, including O’Brien and another colleague injured in the exchange. Paramedics were waiting in the lobby but could not save O’Brien’s life. Bellemare was shot in the arm and taken into custody at the scene. 

Evidence and Investigation Details

Police later searched the apartment and found large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, other drugs with a combined street value around $65,000, cash in a safe and multiple firearms. This location was one of three targets in the broader operation. 

Ouellette also spoke about his relationship with O’Brien, describing him as a good friend and colleague with whom he shared training and shifts. The trial continues with additional testimony planned after a midday recess. 

Why This Case Matters

The killing of Cst. O’Brien shocked law-enforcement and local communities when it occurred in 2023. First-degree murder charges reflect Canada’s automatic lifting of the usual requirement to prove planned intent when a police officer is killed on duty. The ongoing trial is unfolding without a jury, before Justice Terence Schultes.

The detailed testimony by an officer who was inside the unit provides an eyewitness account of the moments before the tragedy, helping the court understand what happened and why the situation escalated to deadly force.

Stay updated instantly — follow us on Instagram | Facebook | X