Two people accused of killing a provincial police officer near Brantford, Ont., were formally charged Wednesday with first-degree murder, a day after the shooting.
A man, 25, and woman, 30, who have been in custody since their arrest, appeared at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga via video link. The two are set for a court appearance on Jan. 17.
Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala of Ontario Provincial Police’s Haldimand County detachment was shot just after 2:30 p.m. ET Tuesday while responding to a vehicle in a ditch just west of Hagersville, about 45 kilometres southwest of Hamilton, according to OPP.
Pierzchala was killed the same day he learned he had passed his 10-month probation period and was granted the ability to patrol independently, according to OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique.
Carrique said Pierzchala was patrolling independently at the time he was “tragically killed.” The 28-year-old officer was previously a special constable at Queen’s Park and had been with the provincial police force for just over a year, Carrique said.
Before that, the “exemplary” police officer served in the Canadian Armed Forces.
“This is a man who, at five years old, decided he wanted to be a police officer,” said Carrique. “He had a brief opportunity to live out his dream … unfortunately, he paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
WATCH | Ontario community ‘deeply grieving’ over killing of OPP constable:
Haldimand County Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley says there’s great sorrow over the shooting death of OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala.
On Wednesday, police cars were parked near the scene where the shooting happened, with the road closed for about a kilometre in either direction.
Harold Sheldrick, who lives close to the scene, said he was surprised to hear about the fatal shooting in the “peaceful” town of about 3,000 people south of Hamilton.
“Sure, there is crime just like anywhere but, I mean, out here it is the first time I have heard someone getting shot and killed,” said Sheldrick, who said he has lived in town for about a year.
“A lot of these families know each other, so I am kind of surprised something would escalate this far out here.”
Provincial police had issued an emergency alert just before 6 p.m. advising all area residents to remain in place. The alert was cancelled after the suspects were arrested.
The force said there are no other suspects at large.
