The Latest: Emotional funeral for slain Fredericton officers wraps up

Loved ones, colleagues and dignitaries spoke at the ceremony, and there was a common theme in every speech: the kindness and compassion of the two officers.

The alleged shooter, 48-year-old Matthew Vincent Raymond, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder in their deaths, and those of Bobbie Lee Wright and Donnie Robichaud.

Raymond will appear in court Aug. 27.

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3:20 p.m.

An emotional afternoon for the city of Fredericton is winding to a close after a regimental funeral was held for two slain officers.

Thousands of police officers and first responders filled the Aitken Centre at the University of New Brunswick for the funeral, where Constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns were honoured just over a week after they were gunned down in the line of duty.

Several dignitaries attended the funeral, including the lieutenant-governor Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau, Premier Brian Gallant and Fredericton Mayor Mike O’Brien.

At the end of the service, officers lifted the Canadian flags off of Costello’s and Burns’s caskets and carefully folded them to present to their families, along with their police hats.

Attendees watched on in silence as pallbearers carried the caskets out of the stadium.

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2:50 p.m.

Fredericton Police Chief Leanne Fitch says the deaths of Constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns have shaken the small city to its core and “created a ripple effect that stretches out as far as the ocean is deep.”

Her voice shook several time as she spoke about her work with the two officers, who died in the line of duty last week.

Speaking at a regimental funeral that drew thousands of officers and first responders from across North America, Fitch says both Costello and Burns died as heroes.

She says this is not a time for anger, and that the community needs to “get better, not bitter.”

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2:30 p.m.

New Brunswick’s lieutenant-governor says today is both a time of great sadness and a time to honour all police officers and first responders.

Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau addressed thousands of people at a regimental funeral in Fredericton for Constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns, who were gunned down last week in an attack that also killed two civilians.

Roy-Vienneau says officers constantly demonstrate high levels of courage, resourcefulness, and willingness to go above and beyond, often putting themselves in harm’s way to protect their communities.

She says the city will not forget the sacrifices officers make in the line of duty.

Thousands of police officers and first responders travelled to Fredericton from across North America to attend the funeral.

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2:10 p.m.

A family friend of Const. Robb Costello says the fallen officer took great pride in his work and described being a police officer as his lifelong passion.

Greg Morris spoke at a regimental funeral honouring Costello and fellow officer Const. Sara Burns.

Thousands of officers and first responders from across North America gathered at the Aitken Centre on the University of New Brunswick campus to pay their respects to the fallen officers.

Morris says Costello was a kind and compassionate man who loved his mother, once spending two days with her while she was in the hospital.

He says Costello also loved basketball, even though he wasn’t very good at it.

Morris told Costello’s two daughters that their father would “be proud of the remarkable women they’re becoming.”

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1:40 p.m.

The husband of a Fredericton police officer killed in a shooting last week fought back tears as he delivered an emotional speech to thousands of people attending a regimental funeral in the New Brunswick capital.

Constables Sara Burns and Robb Costello died last Friday after a gunman opened fire on the parking lot of an apartment complex.

Burns’s husband Steven said she was the most beautiful and caring woman he ever met, and asked the surviving Fredericton officers at the funeral to not feel any guilt after her death.

He wore a yellow tie — his wife’s favourite colour — as he described her compassion and kindness.

Thousands of officers and first responders from across North America are gathered at the Aitken Centre on the University of New Brunswick campus to pay their respects to the fallen officers.

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1:25 p.m.

Const. Debbie Stafford has told a packed stadium that the sacrifice made by Constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns of Fredericton will never be forgotten.

Her emotional opening remarks were delivered at the start of a regimental funeral for the two fallen officers, who were killed last week along with two civilians.

She says the outpouring of support from the nation following the tragedy is helping them get through this difficult time.

The centre is filled with thousands of officers and first responders from across North America.

The caps and belts of the fallen officers were laid on top of the caskets by officers, next to roses placed by their family members.

Award-winning Fredericton native Measha Brueggergosman sang a heart-wrenching bilingual rendition of “O Canada” to begin the service.

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1:15 p.m.

Pallbearers have carried the caskets of two fallen Fredericton police officers into a stadium on the University of New Brunswick campus as thousands of mourners watched on in silence.

It marks the beginning of a regimental funeral Constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns, who were killed last week when a gunman opened fire on the parking lot of an apartment complex.

The caps and belts of the slain officers were laid on top of the caskets, and wreaths have been placed at the front of the Aitken Centre beside framed photographs of Costello and Burns.

1,500 uniformed officers and first responders marched in the funeral procession, which saw hundreds of people lining the streets of the small city in the pouring rain.

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12:45 p.m.

Thousands of police officers and first responders from across North America are filing into the Aitken Centre on the University of New Brunswick campus, where a regimental funeral will begin shortly for two Fredericton Police officers killed last week.

The centre has a capacity of 4,000 and is expected to be filled with people who wish to pay their respects for Constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns, who died alongside two civilians when a gunman opened fire on the parking lot of an apartment complex last week.

A red carpet covers the centre aisle of the Aitken Centre, leading up to where their caskets will be laid.

About 1,500 officials marched in the funeral procession from Fredericton High School to the centre.

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12:15 p.m.

Two hearses carrying the bodies of fallen Fredericton Police Constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns are travelling slowly along a funeral procession route, flanked by pallbearers.

Following closely behind was Grimsby, a light grey horse co-owned by Burns and fellow Fredericton police Const. Stefan Decourcey.

More than a thousand officers and first responders from communities across North America are marching in the procession, on their way to the Aitken Centre on the University of New Brunswick campus for a funeral service that is closed to the public.

The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m.

While the rain that hammered the New Brunswick capital has let up, the sky remains grey, mirroring the gloom that has taken over the small city.

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12:00 p.m.

A funeral procession has begun to honour the lives of Robb Costello and Sara Burns, two Fredericton Police constables killed in a shooting last week.

A police horse named Grimsby, who was co-owned by Burns and another officer, is marching along with the hundreds of officials in the procession.

Hundreds of people with umbrellas are lining the procession route in the pouring rain to pay their respects to the fallen officers.

Thousands of police officers and first responders from at least 150 agencies across North America will fill the Aitken Centre on the University of New Brunswick campus for a funeral service that is closed to the public.

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11:45 a.m.

Hundreds of people with umbrellas are lining the route where a funeral procession for two fallen Fredericton Police officers will take place.

Meanwhile, police officers in dress uniforms are queuing outside Fredericton High School in the pouring rain, where the procession honouring constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns is slated to begin at noon.

The two officers died alongside Bobbie Lee Wright and Donnie Robichaud last Friday when a gunman opened fire on the parking lot of an apartment complex in Fredericton.

A regimental funeral service at the Aitken Centre on the campus of the University of New Brunswick will begin at 1 p.m.

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11:30 a.m.

The families of two Fredericton Police constables killed in last week’s shooting have already taken their seats for a regimental funeral honouring the lives of Robb Costello and Sara Burns.

The two officers died alongside Bobbie Lee Wright and Donnie Robichaud last Friday when a gunman opened fire on the parking lot of an apartment complex in Fredericton.

About 4,000 people are expected to fill the Aitken Centre on the campus of the University of New Brunswick for a funeral service that is closed to the public.

A red carpet covers the floor of the Aitken Centre, leading up to where their caskets will be laid.

A funeral procession from Fredericton High School is slated to begin at noon, with the service beginning an hour later.

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11:00 a.m.

Officials are beginning to gather at a high school in Fredericton for a funeral procession honouring two police officers who were gunned down last week.

Rain is pouring down in New Brunswick’s capital, mirroring the gloom that has taken over the small city of nearly 60,000.

Thousands of police officers and first responders from across North America will attend the funeral of constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns.

They were killed along with Bobbie Lee Wright and Donnie Robichaud when a gunman opened fire on the parking lot of an apartment complex in Fredericton.

A procession from Fredericton High School is slated to begin at noon, and the service will begin at 1 p.m. at the Aitken Centre on the campus of the University of New Brunswick.

The alleged shooter, 48-year-old Matthew Vincent Raymond, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

The Latest: Emotional funeral for slain Fredericton officers wraps up

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