A long-running “neighbour dispute” ended in an Aug. 1 quadruple shooting in Stratford, Ont., that left two people seriously injured and two dead, including the suspected shooter.
The Stratford Police Service received multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots in the area of Bradshaw Drive and McCarthy Road West in the small city of 31,000 at 10:45 p.m.
“Police arrived and found four victims of gunshot wounds,” a police news release said. “Two victims have passed away as a result of their injuries, two others were transported to Victoria Hospital in London.”
Of the victims in hospital, one “remains in life-threatening condition while the other is receiving treatment for a life-altering injury,” the release said.
One of the deceased victims was also transported to Stratford General Hospital before he was pronounced dead, police said.After investigating the shooting, police allege Ricky Bilcke, 31, “opened fire and shot the three victims after being involved in an ongoing neighbour dispute, before ending his own life.”
Investigators allege Bilcke fired the first shots from across the road with a high-powered rifle, hitting the first victim, 36-year-old Jonathan Bennett. Bennett was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Bilcke is then alleged to have used a shotgun as he entered the roadway, shooting the second victim, David Tokley, 43. Tokley is being treated for life-threatening injuries, police said.
The third victim was Stephanie Irvine, who was shot after leaving her home.
“Several other shots were fired by the shooter during the course of his assault against the three victims before he completed his attack by turning the gun on himself and ending his own life,” the release said.
Stratford police said part of the area will remain closed off on Aug. 2 because investigators are still on the scene.
Officers will also be seeking witnesses and asking neighbours in the area for surveillance videos.
“We are aware of numerous videos of the incident that have been posted to social media,” police said. “Out of respect to the victims of this incident and the trauma this has caused to all people involved, we ask that those videos be removed.”
Anyone who has video footage of the crime is being asked to submit it to police online.
Stratford is located approximately 150 kilometres west of Toronto.
