Stratford police have identified the gunman and victims in a shooting Thursday night that left two dead and two others fighting for their lives.
Police arrived on scene on Bradshaw Drive and McCarthy road shortly before 11 p.m. on Aug. 1 and found four individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.
One individual was found deceased at the scene, while a second was transported to Stratford General Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased, police stated in a news release late Friday afternoon.
The two other victims were transported to Victoria Hospital in London by air ambulance. One victim remains in life-threatening condition, while the second is receiving treatment for what police called a life-altering injury.
Police say the shooter was 31-year-old Ricky Bilcke, who opened fire and shot the three victims "after being involved in an ongoing neighbour dispute" before taking his own life.
"The shooter initially opened fire from across the road with a high-powered rifle, and struck the first victim, Jonathan Bennett, 36, who was later pronounced deceased at hospital," police said. "The shooter then accessed a shotgun and entered onto the roadway where he shot the second victim, David Tokley, 43, who is currently in hospital receiving treatment for life-threatening injuries."
The third victim, identified as Stephanie Irvine, exited her residence and was targeted and shot by the shooter.
"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," police said.
Const. Darren Fischer said Bilcke had no reported issues with mental health and that police had not done any mental wellness checks on him at any point prior to the shooting. He did confirm that officers had been to both Bilcke’s and Bennett’s residences previously.
“There was no evidence of any threats that had been made nor of any indication that any violence would come out of their altercations,” he said. “It was more along the line of minor neighbour conflict.”
Bennett and Irvine shared a home, and Fischer said he heard there were children in that residence, but would not confirm that. He did say that the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) had been contacted.
“I don’t know where (any children) were during the time of the incident, but CAS has been notified,” he said.
Fischer said the last time a murder occurred in Stratford was in the early 2000s, and the suspect was convicted in 2004.
The area remained closed down for investigation on Friday.
Police said they are aware of "numerous" videos of the incident posted on social media and, out of respect for the victims and others involved, have asked they be taken down. Investigators would also like anyone with videos to send it to them.
