Stratford police have identified the gunman and victims of the shooting 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. Thursday and found that four individuals had suffered gun shot wounds. One individual was found deceased at the scene, while a second was transported to Stratford General Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased, a police release late Friday afternoon said.
The two other victims were transported to Victoria Hospital in London by ORNGE air ambulance. One victim remains in life-threatening condition, while the second is receiving treatment for a life-altering injury.
Police say the shooter was Ricky Bilcke, age 31, 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. 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," police said.
The third victim, 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."
Constable 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 the third victim, Irvine, shared a home and Fischer said he heard there were children in that residence but would not confirm that as fact. He did say that the Children’s Aid Society 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 remains closed down for investigation.
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 ask they be taken down.
They would also like anyone with videos to send it to them.
