A Quebecer on the run nearly created a bloodbath last week when he shot and killed two police officers and three paramedics from British Columbia who tried to help him.
“They were very lucky not to get hit by a bullet when he suddenly pulled out his gun,” said Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Sergeant Mike Wysendowicz of Trail City.
It was in this small municipality of 7,700 people, located a few kilometers from the Canada-US border, that two of its agents were called on October 25 to subdue Quebecer Francis Paradis.
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“The RCMP were contacted in the middle of the night about a male who was behaving erratically. He tried to break into the ambulance station on the trail. Two police officers arrived on the scene. Up until then, it was normal,” he explains. Register Sergeant Wysendowicz.
Not a good escape
Officers found 29-year-old Francis Paradis in a dark corner outside the ambulance station. Meanwhile, three paramedics stood aside and watched the operation.
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“They thought they should take him back to a nearby hospital because he was familiar with some of the patients. Mr. Paradis had a hospital blanket over him. When the police started talking to him, he suddenly took off the blanket and pointed a gun at him,” said Mike Wysendowicz.
Quebecer immediately began firing several bullets in the direction of the two police officers and three paramedics. Miraculously no one was hit. “Our officers were close enough to the man to use a conducted energy weapon in an attempt to physically subdue him. He was arrested at the scene,” said Sgt.
Francis Paradis is therefore being held in custody pending a November 2 court appearance in British Columbia. He faces five counts of discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm contrary to order and assault with a weapon.
“He met with an accident in his vehicle a few hours ago. Because of this, he was taken to the hospital and this condition occurred. We still don’t know all the circumstances of this case because he hasn’t really responded to us,” said Mr. Wysendowicz said.
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He would have fled Quebec
According to our information, the 29-year-old Quebecer lives in Saint-Paul-de-l’Île-aux-Noix in Monterrey. A warrant was filed for his arrest on October 19 on charges of assaulting a woman with a weapon.
Francis Paradis would have been on the run for days before causing a stir in British Columbia. Trail Mayor Lisa Bassin said her town had never seen such a violent incident.
“I believe this is a wake-up call to the province and the federal government. We need more funding for the RCMP, ambulances, our health workers and people with mental health issues,” concludes Ms.me Bassin.
The Register We tried to reach family members of Frances Paradis on Saturday, but our interview requests were either declined or ignored.
He fought and died
This is not the first time the 29-year-old Quebecer has been accused. In 2020, he was recognized Accused of murder.
Francis Paradis was actually involved in the death of Philippe Lauro in August 2018. At that point, a fight between the two took a turn for the worse at Bar Le Petit Laurier, located in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
Mr. Lareau suffered a head injury. He died in hospital a week later. Mr. Paradis was convicted of manslaughter in February 2020 and sentenced to 11 months in prison.
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