Two billed with initial-degree murder in lethal taking pictures of OPP officer in southwestern Ont.

New aspects have been unveiled about the two people charged with to start with-degree murder in the demise of Ontario Provincial Law enforcement (OPP) Const. Grzegorz “Greg” Pierzchala.

According to the OPP, Randall McKenzie is a member of the Mississaugas of the Credit score Initially Country, positioned close to Brantford, although Brandi Stewart-Sperry is from Hamilton.

At a Wednesday evening push conference, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique reported he could not say what the probable motive powering the capturing could be.

Carrique said McKenzie was previously introduced on bail on a quantity of circumstances, like remaining in his home and not possessing any firearms.

Carrique reported McKenzie was beneath a life time firearms prohibition and experienced been billed in 2021 with various firearms offences and assaulting a peace officer. A warrant experienced been issued for this arrest and extra expenses were laid following he unsuccessful to present up for a court docket appearance in September.

“I’m outraged by the fact that McKenzie was out on bail and was provided the possibility to acquire the lifetime of an innocent officer,” Carrique claimed. “I know there is a whole lot of curiosity to make certain, in which attainable, folks who are billed with violent offences that are firearms-related are not in these positions moving forward.”

Carrique said prior to the taking pictures, the suspects allegedly robbed a citizen of their vehicle and fled the scene.

Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala in a photo shared by the Ontario Provincial Law enforcement.

ACCUSED Surface IN Court docket

On Wednesday afternoon, Stewart-Sperry and McKenzie produced their to start with appearances in a Cayuga, Ont., courtroom by using video connect with.

For the duration of brief, different appearances, both have been instructed not to communicate with opportunity crown witnesses, the family of the sufferer, or each other.

They stay in custody and are because of to return to court on Jan. 17.

Justice Brett Kelly identified as it a “incredibly unfortunate and tragic day for our local community.”

“I never recall that this has ever transpired in my life time. And my condolences go out to the households as properly as to the OPP detachment in this article in Cayuga and Haldimand,” Kelly instructed the courtroom.

Randall McKenzie, 25, and Brandi Stewart-Sperry, 30, appear separately in a Cayuga, Ont. courtroom on Dec. 28, 2022 via video clip connect with. (Court docket sketch by Alexandra Newbould)

Court docket files display the very last acknowledged addresses for the two accused are in Kingston and Hamilton.

Parole board files element McKenzie’s time driving bars for a 2017 theft, indicating a lot of his sentence was used in utmost safety or segregation immediately after stabbing another offender.

OFFICER ‘AMBUSHED’

Pierzchala, 28, was fatally shot when responding to a get in touch with about a vehicle in a ditch near Hagersville, Ont., soon just after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“Over the class of a few of four times, our officers responded to pretty much hundreds of motor automobiles that experienced gone into ditches for the reason that of the weather, pretty much hundreds of motor motor vehicle collisions,” said Carrique. “But, in this specific scenario, provincial Const. Pierzchala was shot and fatally hurt moments just after arriving on the scene.”

Carrique said Pierzchala was “basically ambushed and had definitely no chance of getting capable to defend himself.”

The rookie officer experienced been patrolling independently considering the fact that April of this yr, earning himself a remarkably regarded and revered reputation from his friends, Carrique reported.

Witness Brian Gunn told CTV Information he observed a car or truck in the ditch Tuesday afternoon as he drove to gas up his motor vehicle close by. When he returned a several minutes later on, he observed the aftermath of the taking pictures.

“I viewed that younger man lying on the ground,” Gunn claimed Wednesday. “I’m sorry, no a single warrants that.”

“I slept probably an hour very last night. I was not guaranteed what to even do. If I could have aided him, I really do not know.”

Road closure in Haldimand County on Indian Line at Ojibway Street on Dec. 27 next a shooting. (Submitted: Lindsay Biscaia)

Pierzchala, who experienced just accomplished his probationary interval, was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and pronounced useless a short time later.

The capturing prompted an unexpected emergency alert, warning people in surrounding communities to shelter in area.

Hours later, 30-year-old Stewart-Sperry and McKenzie, 25, were arrested in connection to the deadly capturing.

Local community REELING

In Hagersville, several are remaining questioning what occurred and why.

“As a mom, this seriously hits residence,” reported Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady. “He’s a young gentleman, and that’s somebody’s son, somebody’s brother, it’s a everyday living lost and it doesn’t make feeling.”

Flags have been lowered throughout the neighborhood and individuals are leaving bouquets at the roadblock where the incident unfolded. Tributes are pouring in from across the province.

“Any individual could have responded to that,” Haldimand County Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley explained. “Particularly in our neighborhood where we are so near and if we see anyone in a ditch or we see a person battling we are there to aid.”