The man accused of gunning down three Mounties during a shooting spree in Moncton will undergo a 30-day psychiatric assessment.
Justin Bourque, 24, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the June 4 incident.
His lawyer, David Lutz, requested the psychiatric assessment on behalf of Bourque鈥檚 father.
Bourque appeared in court Thursday but remained silent, and has yet to enter a plea on any of the charges.
Outside the Moncton provincial courthouse, Mireille Thibeault, a friend of the Bourque family, said she was still struggling to understand what happened on June 4 when RCMP Constables Dave Ross, Fabrice Gevaudan and Douglas Larche lost their lives.
鈥淚 think I wanted more answers, which might come along after this evaluation,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut just like everyone else, I just want to know.鈥�
The shooting spree kept much of Moncton under lockdown for hours as police searched for the suspect. Residents were told to stay indoors.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not something that we would have ever expected,鈥� said resident Jamie Lirette.
Another resident, Tristen Terry, graduated from high school two weeks after the tragedy. He said it was a sombre ceremony as everyone struggled to process what had happened.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 expect to see this kind of tragedy happen in Moncton,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing young, we aren鈥檛 exposed to that type of stuff at this age.鈥�
Bourque will return to court on July 31.
With a report by CTV Atlantic鈥檚 David Bell and files from The Canadian Press
