OPP officer at scene of shooting tells court officer's gun 'went off'

Pratyush Dayal · CBC News

· Posted: May 13, 2025 7:10 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours ago

The tribunal heard melodramatic caller details Tuesday successful the manslaughter proceedings of Ontario Provincial Police Const. Sean O'Rourke. 

A chap OPP serviceman who was with O'Rourke astatine the clip of the shooting said helium heard the serviceman accidental his weapon went off. 

"He uttered, helium thinks his firearm went off, 'I deliberation my weapon went off,'" Sgt. Bradley Cooke told the court.

The judge-alone proceedings began Monday successful the Superior Court of Justice successful Chatham. O'Rourke is connected proceedings for manslaughter successful the July 2021 decease of Nicholas Edward Grieves, 24, a subordinate of Six Nations of the Grand River surviving successful Windsor. O'Rourke has pleaded not guilty. 

On Tuesday, the tribunal heard from officers who were with O'Rourke in the moments earlier and aft the shooting. 

On July 7, 2021, OPP responded to a telephone astir a gasoline theft of $40 astatine a Dutton state station. Officers located the conveyance believed to beryllium progressive travelling westbound connected Highway 401 and followed it.

Cooke was 1 of them. He told the tribunal Tuesday that helium was driving a marked conveyance down O'Rourke's unmarked grey vehicle.

The uniformed serviceman told the tribunal that their program since receiving the dispatch telephone was to travel a tandem stop, a process successful which a conveyance is boxed successful arsenic a mode to halt it.

Cooke said Grieves "didn't look to beryllium speeding." While Cooke was driving successful the close manus lane down him, helium said O'Rourke was successful the near manus lane "pretty overmuch was driving adjacent to the fishy vehicle."

Soon enough, Cooke said helium activated lights and sirens and instantly saw Grieves' car swerve a mates of times.

"It spun out, felt similar a dilatory motion, but happened quickly, a 360, and went into the centre median… anticlockwise into the ditch," helium said, noting helium could perceive the wheels spinning and car's muffler being precise loud.

"Const. O'Rourke pulled rapidly into the ditch wherever the fishy conveyance was."

Upon exiting his constabulary cruiser, Cooke said heard screaming coming from wrong the car.

"Const. O'Rourke had some of his hands with a firearm pointed to the vehicle," helium said.

Cooke said helium saw O'Rourke gully his limb but did not gully his own. 

Cooke recounts proceeding O'Rourke say his firearm went off

Crown Attorney Jason Nicol asked whether Cooke heard a gunshot and the serviceman said helium didn't — but told the tribunal helium heard O'Rourke saying his firearm went disconnected portion inactive pointing to the car.

Cooke said they pulled Grieves retired of the car arsenic helium was unresponsive but didn't spot immoderate disposable injuries. When they took his reddish T-shirt off, Cooke said "there was a slug changeable successful his close arm."

"He was breathing but wasn't conscious."

Shortly, Cooke said Grieves stopped breathing and they conducted CPR for a portion until the EMS arrived and took over.

'Above and beyond,' says OPP workfellow says of O'Rourke

OPP Const. Lisa Peck, who was besides connected work that time was besides nearing the country after having heard implicit vigor O'Rourke asking for EMS citing a gunshot wound.

"I cognize a firearm had been discharged. I don't person immoderate different specifics," she told the court.

She said that upon accomplishment she saw O'Rourke and Cooke performing CPR and she aided different companions of Grieves successful the car.

During introspection by O'Rourke's lawyer, Sandy Khehra, Peck said she had known O'Rourke for 17 years.

"Above and beyond," she said of O'Rourke's enactment ethic.

"Skilled, passionate astir his job, helium volition assistance anyone amended their skills."

Two adept Crown witnesses for expected Wednesday.

O'Rourke, who joined the Chatham-Kent OPP detachment successful 2004, has been suspended with wage since being charged by the portion successful 2022.

The proceedings is expected to past 2 weeks.