Day two of a trial for a Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (CK OPP) officer heard testimony from two CK OPP officers who were on duty the night of a fatal shooting on Highway 401 near Ridgetown.
CK OPP Constable Sean O'Rourke, 57, is charged with manslaughter in connection to the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Nicholas Grieves near Ridgetown in July 2021.
O'Rourke was responding to a report of a gas theft when Grieves was shot in the upper torso. Grieves was later pronounced dead in hospital.
According to police, Grieves was fleeing from officers following the gas theft from the Dutton ONroute rest stop on Highway 401 at around 4:30 a.m. on July 7, 2021.
On Tuesday, CK OPP Sergeant Bradley Cook told the Superior Court in Chatham that he saw a car in the ditch when he arrived at the scene and O'Rourke had both hands on his gun.
Cook said screams were coming from the car and O'Rourke told him "I think my gun went off."
He added that the victim was pulled from the car, but he didn't immediately notice an injury. It was when a red t-shirt was removed that he noticed a bullet wound in the victim's shoulder, Cook testified.
The sergeant noted the victim was still breathing and paramedics were called.
CK OPP Constable Lisa Peck testified that she saw a man on the ground in the median getting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when she arrived at the scene.
Peck also testified that a female passenger, who identified herself as the victim's wife, was hysterical and appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
There was also a third person in the car, a man who didn't give his real name initially, but was later found to be wanted by Toronto police, according to Peck.
Peck told the court that Constable O'Rourke is a skilled officer, who is passionate about his job.
The trial continues on Wednesday. It's expected to last 7-8 days.