User:Eightnothing/sandbox

Test Peter

Peter John de Groot was killed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Monday Oct 13th, 2014, near Slocan village, East Kootenays, British Columbia (BC). His death ended a four day manhunt following an initial shooting incident at Peter de Groot's residence in West Slocan. The incident attracted national media attention and controversy, coming only four months after the fatal shooting of three officers by Justin Bourque in Moncton NB. The circumstances of his death are currently under investigation by the Independent Investigations Office of BC. A coroner's investigation is concurrently being performed by the Coroner's Service of BC.

Initial Incident

Peter resided at a rustic small holding without services on the edge of Slocan village. He kept an assortment of animals including several cattle, pigs and chickens. Three RCMP officers in separate vehicles attended the property around 1pm Thurs 8th October, in order to arrest Peter for an alleged minor assault two days before. He was alleged to have shoved a local resident following a dispute about his animals. According to initial police statements, Peter failed to comply with the arrest, and had instead returned to his van on the property and retrieved a rifle. According to testimony by the two witness officers, shots were fired by one RCMP officer and Peter. Peter then fled into the forest at the back of the property, reportedly carrying a rifle. The property backs onto Valhalla Provincial Park, a large mountainous wilderness area which contains several abandoned farms and mines, and some newer hunting cabins.

Manhunt The East Region RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT) based in Kelowna BC arrived at the scene by Thursday evening. A lockdown of the village was begun by the RCMP advising residents to stay indoors and restricting vehicle in and out of the area. By Friday a major manhunt was underway by ERT, focusing on a containment zone set up in the immediate area East of Peter's property. A police helicopter with infrared tracking capability assisted in the search, and deployed police to the search area. In total over 40 officers were deployed to the incident. Local and national media also entered the village and the story was closely covered in the subsequent days. Media reported a number of claims about about Peter such that he was an ex-soldier, survivalist, and suffered from PTSD. These reports were later discredited. In fact, Peter had a long history of poor health, and had escaped without supplies, wearing only socks and light clothing. Despite an intense search, no sign of Peter was reported by Thanksgiving on Sunday, three days later, and he was suspected of having evaded the search and fled the area. Police scaled down the search, lifted the lockdown and some normality returned to the village. This was accompanied by reports by residents that knew him that he was harmless and that they did not feel threatened. By Monday the containment area cordon was abandoned and restrictions were further relaxed.

Death On Monday evening two members of Peter's family who were in the village, were notified of Peter's death. According to their account, police had reported that they had shot him, having found him lying in a hunting cabin with his rifle. Subsequent statements by the IIO said only that ''There was an interaction between the subject of the ongoing search and the two emergency response team members."

Media Coverage

History

Controversy