Shooting suspects in court
RCMP confirm handgun used in shooting was stolen in Range Lake area burglary
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, May 1, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknife RCMP has confirmed the handgun used to shoot a man in the city Sunday night was stolen from a residence in the Range Lake area on March 13.
Travis William Campbell covers his face as he is led into the Yellowknife courthouse yesterday morning. The 26-year-old Langley, B.C. man was in handcuffs and leg shackles. He is charged with two counts of attempted murder in connection with a shooting in Yellowknife Sunday night. - John McFadden/NNSL photo
Brendan Paul, 18, is in handcuffs as he waits to get let into the Yellowknife courthouse yesterday morning. The Yellowknife man is charged with two counts of attempted murder after a shooting in the city Sunday night. Paul was out on bail when RCMP allege a man was shot with a handgun that Paul is charged with stealing from a Range Lake area neighbourhood in March. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
A Yellowknife man charged with two counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting is also charged with stealing the handgun.
Security was tighter than usual as Brendan Paul, 18, appeared in court yesterday morning. He was kept in the prisoner's box for his appearance along with his co-accused Travis William Campbell, 26, of Langley B.C. who also faces two counts of attempted murder.
There were three RCMP officers in the courtroom for the hearing instead of the usual one. Two officers sat at the back of the courtroom as the other officer sat next to the prisoner's box. The hearing lasted about 10 minutes. Both men were remanded into custody and will remain at the North Slave Correctional Centre (NSCC). They will both next appear in court by video on June 2.
Paul was out on bail at the time of the shooting. Judge Garth Malakoe ordered that the two men not communicate in any way with each other after Crown prosecutor Annie Piche made the request. The suspects arrived at court in separate vehicles, Paul in an RCMP pick-up truck and Campbell in an NSCC van. Paul was in handcuffs while he was being transferred to court while Campbell was in handcuffs and leg shackles.
Paul was represented by lawyer Jay Bran, while Gary Wool was the legal counsel for Campbell.
In an e-mail to Yellowknifer on Wednesday, RCMP Const. Elenore Sturko stated that the .40 caliber Glock, discovered in the front yard of a Yellowknife home Monday morning, is the one believed used in Sunday night's shooting. It was reported stolen along with an AR-15 rifle and 2,000 rounds of ammunition.
Paul was charged on March 31 with break, enter and theft in connection with the burglary from the Range Lake area home.
Court documents reveal that the two firearms and the ammo were in a safe in a home on Kasteel Drive. Paul was granted bail on those charges April 2 by Justice of the Peace Adelle Guigon. But less than 24 hours later Paul was re-arrested for breaching his bail conditions and charged with being unlawfully in a dwelling house. On April 17 he was again released on bail by Justice of the Peace Ruth McLean.
Paul's mother, Kimberly Paul, 42, sat in the front row of the courtroom and blew kisses to her son as he was led into the courtroom and when he was led out. She briefly spoke to a Yellowknifer reporter after the hearing.
"I am shattered and shocked. When things settle down I will talk further," she said.
She didn't reply when Yellowknifer asked her if her son committed the crime he is charged with.
"I'm here as a concerned, loving mother," she said. "The truth will come out in the end."
The two men were charged after another man was shot in the left shoulder when as many as 10 shots were fired near the Fraser Arms apartments at about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Police arrested the two suspects after a high-speed chase through neighbourhood streets in Frame Lake South and Kam Lake. The chase ended on Grace Lake Boulevard, south of the Kam Lake industrial park at about 11 p.m.
The vehicle the suspects were in had earlier been damaged during the chase when it struck a pick-up truck. RCMP have not identified the victim of the shooting. Police described his wound as non-life threatening. It is not clear if he is still in hospital.
