Latest news with #Bellefeuille
Global News
26-05-2025
- Global News
Man found guilty of murder, attempted murder in 2023 shooting of 3 OPP officers
The man accused of killing a police officer and shooting two others at his eastern Ontario home has been found guilty of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Leonardo Russomanno, a lawyer representing Alain Bellefeuille, said in an email to The Canadian Press that his client received a life sentence for first-degree murder with no chance of parole for 25 years. He was also handed 20-year sentences for each count of attempted murder, to be served concurrently. Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Eric Mueller was killed and two other officers were injured when they were called to do a wellness check at Bellefeuille's home in Bourget, Ont. on May 11, 2023. A joint statement from OPP commissioner Thomas Carrique, the president of the police union and Mueller's family said the nearly nine-week trial, which involved the release of body-camera footage and testimony described as emotional, intensified the pain of the attack for all concerned. Story continues below advertisement They said Saturday's verdict validated the life-changing effect the shooting had on surviving officers and reinforced Mueller's own values. 'Sergeant Mueller was a dedicated officer who served the people of Ontario for 21 years,' the statement reads. 'His legacy and the impact he had on his community continues on. Today's verdict reinforces our focus on what Sergeant Mueller stood for — an unwavering commitment to the community and to the safety and protection of others.' 2:02 'Eric was everything': Fallen Ontario police sergeant laid to rest Mueller, 42, was a father to two young children who had been with the police force for half his life. His daughter was nearly two at the time of his death, while his son was nine months old. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy His funeral drew a crowd of thousands that packed an Ottawa hockey arena, where Mueller's brother-in-law Chris Wood described him as a gentle giant, family man and hero. Story continues below advertisement 'He was able to bring instant comfort with one hug, share his approval with one cheeky smile and found humour in life's imperfections,' Wood said at the funeral on May 18, 2023. Mueller and his fellow officers were shot after they approached a house at 2 a.m. on May 11 in the small town of Bourget, east of Ottawa, after neighbours complained about the sound of gunshots. Mueller died later that day in an Ottawa hospital. Constables Marc Lauzon and François Gamache-Asselin were injured in the shooting. The joint statement said both officers displayed 'the highest standard of bravery in the face of life-threatening and life-altering violence.' Bellefeuille's family and loved ones expressed their devastation at the verdict in a brief statement provided by Russomanno. 'On behalf of Alain, his family, friends, and all of us who knew him to be utterly incapable of the crimes that were ascribed to him, we are completely heartbroken with this result,' it read. Mueller joined the OPP in 2002 as a special constable responsible for transporting offenders in Ottawa. He was officially hired as a recruit in 2006 and was promoted to sergeant 2018. He was recognized for his bravery in 2015 with the Commissioner's Citation for Lifesaving after helping to lift a burning vehicle to rescue an injured suspect. Story continues below advertisement
Toronto Sun
24-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Eastern Ontario man found guilty of first-degree murder of OPP officer
Jury also found Alain Bellefeuille guilty of two counts of attempted murder for injuring fellow officers during wellness check Alain Bellefeuille arrives at the courthouse in L'Orignal, Ont., Friday, March 28, 2025. Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Network An Eastern Ontario man was found guilty of murder for the deadly shooting of an Ontario Provincial Police officer during a wellness check two years ago. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The jury in l'Orignal also found Alain Bellefeuille guilty of two counts of attempted murder after two other OPP officers were injured in the shooting during a standoff at the man's home in Bourget – about 50 km east of Ottawa – on May 11, 2023. Bellefeuille's lawyer said he was handed a life sentence for first-degree murder and two 20-year sentences for attempted murder, to be served concurrently, with no chance of parole for 25 years. Sgt. Eric Mueller was killed and Consts. Marc Lauzon and Francois Gamache-Asselin were injured in the shooting after a neighbour called 911 saying they thought they heard a gunshot and were worried Bellefeuille may have committed suicide. A joint statement released by OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique, Ontario Provincial Police Association President John Cerasuolo, and the victim's family explains Mueller stood for 'an unwavering commitment to the community and to the safety and protection of others.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It also acknowledges the life-changing impact felt by Provincial Constables Marc Lauzon and Francois Gamache-Asselin, who exhibited the highest standard of bravery in the face of life-threatening and life-altering danger.' The joint statement also thanks emergency responders for their swift and courageous actions that prevented further harm. However, the trial took an emotional toll on the families and fellow officers affected. RECOMMENDED VIDEO 'For nearly nine weeks, the emotional testimonies and public release of body worn camera footage have significantly intensified the emotional impact we have all felt since that heartbreaking day in 2023.' 'It has been especially difficult for Sergeant Eric Mueller's family, our two wounded officers, our OPP members and their loved ones,' the statement reads. 'Sergeant Mueller was a dedicated officer who served the people of Ontario for 21 years. His legacy and the impact he had on his community continues on.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mueller was a 42-year-old father of two children. The trial saw Mueller's bodycam footage played in court after prosecutors explained the trio of officers who responded to Bellefeuille's home knocked a total of 64 times, including the back porch door and bedroom window, before entering the unlocked front door. Read More The court heard Bellefeuille was armed with a semi-automatic rifle and waited until the officers were in his sights before firing eight of nine bullets, striking Mueller fatally, severely wounding Lauzon and injuring Gamache-Asselin in the leg. 'You f—– with the wrong motherf—–, should never have broken into my house,' Bellefeuille is heard saying in the video as he leaned in closer to the dying Mueller lying on the floor. Bellefeuille testified in his own defence that he thought the officers were intruders. — with files from the Ottawa Citizen Toronto & GTA Columnists Columnists Other Sports Editorial Cartoons
Global News
24-05-2025
- Global News
Man found guilty of murder, attempted murder of Ontario police officers
A man accused of fatally shooting an Ontario Provincial Police officer and wounding two others while they conducted a wellness check was found guilty of murder and other charges Saturday. Alain Bellefeuille was convicted on one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with a May 11, 2023, shooting that left OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller dead. The verdict was delivered by a jury in Superior Court in L'Orignal, Ont. Bellefeuille was automatically sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years for the first-degree murder charge. Two 20-year prison sentences for each attempted murder charge will be served concurrently. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He also faces a lifetime prohibition from owning or using a firearm. Prosecutors said Mueller and the other two officers, constables Mark Lauzon and François Gamache-Asselin, were shot when they responded to a report of a disturbance at a home in Bourget, east of Ottawa. Mueller later died in hospital. Story continues below advertisement Bellefeuille did not deny that he shot the officers but denied it was premeditated. At the time, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said the officers were 'ambushed.' In a joint statement released after the verdict, Carrique, Ontario Provincial Police Association president John Cerasuolo and the Mueller family said the testimony and evidence presented in court — including body camera footage of the shooting — 'significantly intensified the emotional impact we have all felt since that heartbreaking day.' 'Today's verdict reinforces our focus on what Sgt. Mueller stood for — an unwavering commitment to the community and to the safety and protection of others,' the statement said. 'It also acknowledges the life-changing impact felt by (Lauzon and Gamache-Asselin), who exhibited the highest standard of bravery in the face of life-threatening and life-altering danger.' Mueller, a 42-year-old father of two who served the OPP for over two decades, was described as an exemplary officer by his colleagues and those who paid their final respects at his funeral in 2023. — with files from The Canadian Press
Toronto Sun
24-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Alain Bellefeuille guilty of first-degree murder in death of OPP officer
Alain Bellefeuille arriving at the L'Orignal Courthouse. Photo by TONY CALDWELL / POSTMEDIA A jury in l'Orignal has found Alain Bellefeuille guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller in a standoff at Bellefeuille's home on May 11, 2023. The jury also found Bellefeuille guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting of constables Marc Lauzon and François Gamache-Asselin in the standoff. Bellefeuille admitted at trial that he fired the shots that killed and wounded the officers, but claimed self-defence, fearing he was the victim of a home invasion. More to come This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Other Sports Sunshine Girls Editorial Cartoons Sunshine Girls Canada
Toronto Sun
09-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
What Alain Bellefeuille was thinking when he killed an OPP officer: ''I was in a nightmare'
In emotional testimony, Bellefeuille described waking to strange noises, crouching by his bed with a loaded weapon Bellefeuille arriving at the L'Orignal courthouse in late March. Alain Bellefeuille is on trial for first-degree murder of OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller, which happened May 11, 2023 in the village of Bourget. Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Wearing a white shirt unbuttoned at the collar and a black blazer with no tie, Alain Bellefeuille took the witness stand for the first time, nearly two years to the day since he shot three Ontario Provincial Police officers during a wellness check turned deadly at his home in Bourget, Ont. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account His voice was subdued, sometimes shaky, as he described crouching beside his bed with a loaded SKS semi-automatic rifle and opening fire on what he said he thought were intruders. Tears flowed when he recounted the moment he found a gravely injured Sgt. Eric Muelle r , who later died. 'My heart was pounding in my ears,' Bellefeuille told the jury in French. 'I was in a panic.' Bellefeuille said he awoke around 2:30 a.m. to unfamiliar noise on May 11, 2023. He lived alone with his dog and had long feared a break-in. 'I realized someone was in the house in the middle of the night, (and thought) there was a chance I might die,' he told the jury. He recalled a home invasion 16 years earlier in which friends were tied to chairs and beaten at gunpoint. 'That made me think a lot … that it could possibly happen (to me), especially living in the countryside, where I was.' He'd also been robbed in the past, including vehicle thefts and a break-in at his former home in Gatineau. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bellefeuille kept a firearm in the bedroom for protection . His wallet, often holding large amounts of cash, would be hidden at the end of each day. 'It could be anywhere in the house,' he said. Police later found a wallet containing $10,000 concealed under the bathroom sink. The court heard that Bellefeuille is Algonquin, with status through the Alliance Autochtone du Québec. Bellefeuille said he learned of his heritage in his mid-twenties and grew up cut off from that part of his identity. 'It's not uncommon for our traditions to get lost over time,' he said. While incarcerated, he has taken part in smudging ceremonies and healing circles. Alain Bellefeuille's home at 2390 Laval St in Bourget. OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller's death took place at the property on May 11, 2023. Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia On May 10, the day before the shooting, Bellefeuille said he worked a shift on a construction site, ran errands and dropped off flooring at a trailer he had parked on a friend's lot. Around 8:30 p.m., he had one or two cans of Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola with a friend near his home. He continued drinking alone afterward, estimating he consumed about 10 cans in total while listening to music and taking his dog on a walk. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He told investigators he felt about 'seven out of ten' intoxicated, a number he confirmed in court, before going to bed just after midnight. On the stand, he said he didn't feel under the influence at the time of the shooting, though a toxicology report showed his urine alcohol level remained above the legal limit four hours later. The firearm, acquired legally around 2012, was kept in his home because it was a large-calibre weapon capable of making a loud noise. Jurors heard that Bellefeuille had previously used the rifle at a shooting range and modified it with aftermarket rails, a compensator, and an adjustable stock. When asked what he had to do to ready it for firing, Bellefeuille replied, 'Absolutely nothing. There was a round in the chamber. The magazine was already in the magwell, and the safety was off.' He had modified the magazine to hold about 20 rounds, well above the legal limit of five, because he didn't want to waste time reloading in an emergency. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Three gunshot holes, two in the front window and one in the siding, were visible from the outside of the home. Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Bellefeuille testified that the house was completely dark. He saw a beam of light and the shadow of a person he believed was armed. 'It looked like he had a gun in his hand,' he said of the officer shown holding a flashlight in body-worn camera footage. It took fractions of a second for Bellefeuille to fire. Asked if he heard anyone say his name or announce they were police, Bellefeuille replied, 'No, unfortunately.' He said he didn't see any identifying insignia or uniforms and would have reacted differently had he known. 'I would have been relieved … definitely. I wouldn't have seen them as a threat,' he said. During a 27-second pause in gunfire, Bellefeuile said he waited and hoped the intruder had fled. 'I couldn't see anything,' he said. 'There was smoke … my ears were ringing.' But then he heard a shot. 'The first thing I thought was that someone was armed, and the second thing was that I needed to move … I felt vulnerable, like a sitting duck, at that point.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bellefeuille moved closer to his bedroom door and spotted a flicker of light behind the living room curtain. Believing the threat was ongoing, he fired again, two more shots toward the source of the light. The jury has heard that Mueller was fatally wounded almost immediately after entering the home. Const. Marc Lauzon was shot multiple times. Const. François Gamache-Asselin was also struck. OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller was shot to death near Bourget, Ont., east of Ottawa, early on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Photo by Ontario Provincial Police handou Inside the house, investigators found camouflage décor, firearms-related signage, electronics, tools, and a mounted deer head above a Browning ball cap. 'The house was a bit of a disaster,' said Bellefeuille, who had been in the process of moving and had already packed most of his belongings. Forensic photos show the SKS rifle beside the bed. 'To have quick access,' Bellefeuille said. He'd stopped sport shooting over a decade earlier, but kept the weapon. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It was fitted with a scope, though not one equipped for night-vision. 'It lights up the crosshair … red if you press it once, green if you press it again. If the object is too close, you wouldn't see much,' he explained. The court heard that a separate night-vision scope was found on the kitchen table. Bellefeuille said it had never been mounted on the rifle, just his crossbow. 'It's not something you want to drop on the ground,' he said of the $2,000 gear. He also had motion-sensor lighting on his patio and non-functioning security cameras mounted outside the house to deter thieves. Jurors saw a forensic photo showing blood pooled on a wooden platform outside the patio door, near one of the lights. Bellefeuille testified that, after the shooting, he removed his rifle's magazine and left the weapon next to Mueller before calling 911. 'I had no reason to continue,' he said. He told the dispatcher: 'I shot a police, unfortunately. He broke into my house.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Asked what he wanted to happen that night, Bellefeuille answered, 'I didn't want anyone to die.' When pressed on his emotions, he said, 'I was in a nightmare. I thought it was a home invasion. Then I realized it was police I had shot.' His testimony started the defence phase of the trial after more than five weeks of Crown evidence. The jury has already seen bullet strikes documented in multiple rooms of the house and the officers' vehicles outside, watched body-worn camera footage from the aftermath, and heard expert testimony about the SKS rifle's extended magazine . Bellefeuille has pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. His cross-examination is expected to begin on May 9.
