Quebec man, 76, shot and killed in Florida
2 others critically injured, shooter and son, 9, dead
CBC News
Posted: Feb 10, 2012 9:34 AM ET
Last Updated: Feb 10, 2012 7:50 PM ET
A SWAT team from the Broward, Fla., sheriff's office attends the scene of a hostage-taking in which La Tuque, Que., resident Ovila Plante, 76, was shot dead. (NBC)
Related
The Broward, Fla., sheriff's office says a 76-year-old Canadian man shot dead during a standoff at a Deerfield Beach, Fla., trailer park does not appear to have been known to the shooter, who went on to kill his nine-year-old son before taking his own life.
The elderly Canadian was the first to be killed in what turned into a seven-hour stand-off with authorities. He has been identified as Ovila Plante of La Tuque, Que.
Police were called to the Highland Woods Trailer Park after receiving reports of a shooting around 6:20 p.m. Thursday.
They found one man — now identified as Plante — unresponsive on the ground.
William de Jesus, the shooter. (Courtesy: Broward County Sheriff's Office)"This is just a bizarre, random encounter," said Broward sheriff's office spokesman Jim Leljedal.
He said the shooter, William De Jesus, 41, drove into the trailer park in a red Mustang, his wife Deanna and two sons inside the car with him. They all got out of the car, and De Jesus walked up to the Plantes' trailer home, for no apparent reason.
"The Canadian couple inside had just finished dinner, and they were sitting in their motor home," Leljedal said. "De Jesus approached and started yelling at them. Plante came out and pushed De Jesus away."
"De Jesus pulled a gun out and shot Plante once in the chest. When the man fell to the ground, De Jesus walked up to him and put another bullet in his head."
William De Jesus then barricaded himself in the Plantes' trailer, taking his own family hostage along with Plante's wife, Pierrette Beauchemin.
About an hour after that standoff began, Beauchemin was released unharmed.
Woman and boy in critical condition
Police said members of the SWAT team moved in around 1:30 a.m. Friday, after failing in repeated efforts to make contact with De Jesus.
"Inside, they found the suspect dead, also a little boy dead inside," said Dani Moschella of the sheriff's office. The boy has been identified as Jeshiah De Jesus, 9.
De Jesus's wife, Deanna De Jesus, 37, and his son Samson, 7, were taken to hospital, where they remain in serious condition.
The trailer park is a popular spot for people from Quebec.
Share Tools
Latest Montreal News Headlines
- Missing men found dead in Oka lake
- Two young men were found dead in the Lake of Two Mountains Sunday morning, nearly 18 hours after they disappeared into the water in Oka provincial park. more »
- Shawinigan takes Memorial Cup in OT win over London
- Anton Zlobin scored his second goal of the game 17:51 into overtime to lift the Shawinigan Cataractes to their first MasterCard Memorial Cup title with a 2-1 victory over the London Knights on Sunday night. more »
- Quebec tornadoes cause millions in damage
- Environment Canada confirms that two tornadoes — one of which was classed as a moderate F-1 packing winds of up to 150 km/h — touched down near Montreal Friday night, causing millions of dollars in damage. more »
- Woman hit by stray bullet on the Plateau
- A 25-year-old woman is recovering from a gunshot wound after she was hit by a stray bullet fired into a crowd on the Plateau early Sunday morning. more »
Top News Headlines
- Lisa Raitt closer to ending CP Rail strike
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Rail strike if necessary, after both CP Rail and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt tells CBC News she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian regime at an emergency meeting Sunday, holding president Bashar al-Assad's military responsible for the massacre of more than 100 people, dozens of whom were children younger than 10 years old. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
Most Viewed/Commented
- Quebec tornadoes cause millions in damage
- Montreal protesters march in peaceful defiance
- Quebec students, government to resume talks
- Missing men found dead in Oka lake
- Woman hit by stray bullet on the Plateau
- Quebec students ready for tuition hike, says one leader
- Son testifies on behalf of father accused of killing wife
- Mysterious photos may shed light on 2004 Quebec homicide
- Quebec actress captures Cannes prize
