Constable Brown told his side of the story on March 10, 2022 to investigators from the April 2020 Mass Casualty Commission in Nova Scotia. The latter released new documents on the subject on Monday.

The Mass Casualty Commission is investigating the shooting incidents that claimed the lives of 22 people in April 2020.

Terry Brown explained why he and his colleague Dave Melanson made the split-second decision to open fire on a man who turned out to be an innocent civilian.

Mr Brown said he was convinced this man would kill more people if he could escape because there was no doubt in his mind that the man was the wanted suspect.

The official said he was unaware that the barracks were home to people who had fled the small community of Portapique where 13 people were shot the previous day. He was also unaware that another RCMP officer was guarding the safety of those living in the barracks that morning.

The real shooter in Portapique is driving a replica RCMP car and he is disguised as a police officer. According to Terry Brown, Dave Melanson was trying to radio co-workers when they suddenly stopped at the fire station because they saw an RCMP car parked in front that they thought was shooting. Two policemen were riding in an unmarked car.

Terry Brown said he did not notice the real police officer sitting in that car and pointed his gun at another man in the parking lot wearing a safety vest.

Officer Brown said the man looked at him, suddenly leaned into the back of the car and was convinced it would take a weapon. The police, he said, ordered him to raise his hands. It all happened very quickly, he said.

Terry Brown said he started shooting when the man started running toward the barracks.

The man wearing the yellow and orange safety vest was Colchester County Emergency Coordinator David Westlake. He was there to make the connection between the refugees and the help provided by the Red Cross.

Speaking to commission investigators in June 2021, David Westlake said he was walking in the back of the RCMP vehicle when a gray car with squeaking tires suddenly stopped. He said he heard no one shouting police where Raise your hand, but he heard someone shouting cover. Then he heard gunshots.

Officer Brown fired four bullets and Officer Melanson fired one, according to commission documents.

David Westlake added that he rushed inside shouting with gunfire. He only realizes after a few hours that he has been targeted.

RCMP Constable Dave Gagnon, who was stationed in his service car at the fire station that day, tried to contact the two via radio. He also shouted to be heard and the two lowered their weapons, he told the Serious Incident Response Team, the font fonts who investigated the gunshots.

A scary time inside

Meanwhile, inside, two firefighters are assisting Portapique resident Richard Ellison, whose son was shot last night. Fire Chief Greg Muise and his deputy Darrell Currie said in an earlier interview that they spent a frightening time hiding inside after hearing gunshots. They believe Portapique’s real shooter was outside.

Greg Muise and Darrell Currie, in another interview given at the start of the commission’s work, added that they were still traumatized by the events and frustrated because the RCMP had still not issued an apology or explained why its officers fired on the barracks.

Greg Muise, Darrell Currie and Richard Ellison are also set to testify Monday in front of commission members in Halifax.

David Westlake was the only person present at the time who spoke to a police officer after the shooting. He said Agent Gagnon and another man [Dave Melanson] enter for a moment to see if the occupants are safe and well.

Terry Brown said he checked around the building and was concerned that he and his colleague were firing shots at the line of duty. This is always an important event.

The two policemen left to continue the search for the person who shot Portapique. Less than five minutes they remained on the scene, we can see in the surveillance camera recordings.

Officer Brown told the commission they were desperate to catch the real shooter.

The Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team determined that Constable Brown and Melanson committed no criminal activity because they had reason to believe they shot the killer of Portapique.

With information from Elizabeth McMillan of the CBC