With files from Meg Cunningham
This story has been updated continuously to present current information.
Police arrested the man who was the subject of a 12-hour, cross-border search Wednesday morning in Amherst, without incident.
RCMP spokesperson Constable Hans Ouellette says the man was, “taken into custody without incident in Amherst by the Amherst Police Department shortly before 12pm noon, January 6, 2021.”
The man is Janson Bryan Baker, a 24 year old with a previous conviction for robbery. The manhunt yesterday stemmed from an incident outside Riverview High School, says Ouellette.
“On January 5, about 5:15pm, members of the Codiac regional RCMP responded to a shooting incident outside the Riverview High School. At that time, a 35 year old man who was leaving the school was approached by another unknown man who demanded that he hand over the bag he was carrying. The suspect produced a firearm and discharged it towards the man. The victim of the shooting remains in hospital with what are believed to be non life-threatening injuries.”
RCMP spokesperson Hans Ouellette, late afternoon Wednesday
Earlier reports of a BB gun being used were not accurate, says Ouellette. The RCMP are not releasing the details of what firearm was used.
The victim of the shooting was a 35 year old teacher who was leaving Riverview High School at the time he was approached. In a letter to the school community, Riverview High School staff said that other teachers were present for the incident and helped respond while waiting for emergency services.
The victim’s injuries were non-life threatening, but did require him to be admitted to hospital, and undergo a surgery, according to the letter.
Ouellette says the New Brunswick RCMP are continuing the investigation, and Baker will be brought back to New Brunswick where he will be scheduled to appear in court.
It was roughly 5 and a half hours after they were called to the scene of the shooting that police issued their first public alert. Ouellette says it took time to gather the information that led to the alert being issued.
“Our number one priority throughout the whole incident was to ensure public and officer safety, as you can imagine. So it was really important that our investigators take the time to gather and ensure they had credible, accurate information to share with the public. After the incident, when they went there to talk to witnesses, they talked to the victim, and they ascertained what they were dealing with. It was at that point when we received enough information that was credible and accurate, that met the criteria of the Alert Ready, when we pushed the button for the emergency alert that was issued.”
RCMP spokesperson Hans Ouellette, late afternoon Wednesday
The decision to close nearby schools on Wednesday was made by Anglophone East and Francophone South School districts, not the RCMP, says Ouellette.
“We did post tweets and social media saying to our citizens in New Brunswick, in the southeast region, that they can go about their day, but go about their day in a cautious way, and to not approach this individual if they do see him, and to contact the police. The schools themselves, although we work very closely with the schools and with the districts, it is essentially up to the schools and the districts to decide to close schools. But our recommendation to people and citizens during the day was to proceed with their day with caution.”
RCMP spokesperson Hans Ouellette, late afternoon Wednesday
Anglophone East District schools have reopened Thursday, but Riverview High School will be on remote learning for the day.
Janson Bryan Baker has a prior conviction. When he was 19, Baker was arrested and charged with armed robbery. In an online profile, Baker says he served 4.5 years for bank robbery and struggles with addiction and “street lifestyle.”
