RCMP investigators comb through the area where an RCMP officer was shot December 3, 2014 during a traffic stop early Thursday morning in Kamloops. Police are still looking for the suspect.
A man who shot a Mountie at a traffic stop in 2014 has been sentenced to 16 1/2 years in prison for what the judge called a heinous crime.
Kenneth Knutson, 38, pleaded guilty to attempted murder earlier on Thursday before joint submissions for the sentence from Crown and defence lawyers.
Mr. Knutson shot Corporal Jean-Rene Michaud on Dec. 3, 2014, and was arrested after a 12-hour manhunt.
He appeared in court wearing orange prison garb and periodically peered into the gallery, where 10 officers were seated, including Cpl. Michaud and his wife.
Mr. Knutson was ordered to stand trial after a preliminary hearing last December before entering a guilty plea Thursday. Other charges, including aggravated assault and two firearms-related offences, were dropped against him.
Court heard Cpl. Michaud pulled over a vehicle Mr. Knutson was driving and approached from the passenger side after the driver had failed to stop earlier.
In a statement read in court, Cpl. Michaud said the vehicle's rear window was blown out. Then a gunshot hit him in the stomach, and a second shot struck him in the elbow.
He did not pull his own gun.
Police later determined six shots were fired, and two had lodged in Cpl. Michaud's bulletproof vest.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Austin Cullen said Mr. Knutson committed a heinous crime against an officer who was working to protect the community.
Cpl. Michaud endured 12 surgeries and spent 112 days in hospital before returning to full-time duties in January. He had worked part-time on administrative duties before returning to his regular job.
His wife has said he suffered countless complications and setbacks while recovering from extensive injuries, which court heard included a collapsed lung and broken rib.
Mounties have said they are conducting an internal review parallel to the criminal investigation into the shooting.
With time already spent behind bars before his guilty plea, Mr. Knutson is expected to serve 14 1/2 years in prison.