WATCH ABOVE: Raw video of the full news conference where Const. David Wynn’s wife Shelly MacInnis-Wynn and family members speak about his condition.
WARNING: Some of the details of this story may be disturbing to some.
EDMONTON – The family of an Alberta RCMP officer who suffered a gunshot wound to the head during an investigation north of Edmonton are saying their goodbyes.
“I just want everybody to know how thankful I am with all the support that we’ve gotten,” said Shelly MacInnis-Wynn Monday evening.
She stood at a podium alongside her sister-in-law and several RCMP officials, tears streaming down her face.
“We’re saying our goodbyes today,” she said, inhaling a ragged breath. “And then, from there, he’ll be in a better place.”
“But today’s the day we say goodbye to David.”
During the emotional statement, MacInniss-Wynn thanked their RCMP family.
“I was told at depot when Dave graduated how much support we would have throughout his whole career, but I never really knew until now.
“I never really knew what type of family the RCMP were and they are just unbelievable… and have made this process so much easier for us, for the whole family, for my kids.”
Const. Wynn is a father of three.
MacInnis-Wynn said her heart breaks for the officers who have to work through this tragedy.
“They have to keep continuing to work through all of this… they’re grieving as well.”
Const. David Wynn and Auxiliary Const. Derek Bond were responding to a call of a stolen vehicle early Saturday morning when their investigation led them into St. Albert’s Apex Casino. After a short altercation with the suspect, who has since been identified as 34-year-old Shawn Maxwell Rehn, Bond and Wynn were shot.
“He sustained a life-threatening injury to the head. Close range. We do not expect him to survive,” said RCMP Deputy Commissioner Marianne Ryan on Sunday. “He is being treated and looked after in the hospital, but it is not optimistic that he will survive.”
READ MORE: RCMP seeking ‘accountability’ after Alberta RCMP shooter released from jail
“We have watched the Wynn family handle these tragic circumstances with grace and courage,” said Ryan at Monday evening’s news conference, “and this has served as a source of strength for those around them.”
WATCH: The wife of an RCMP member shot in St. Albert over the weekend shared a powerful outpouring of emotion this afternoon. Fletcher Kent explains.
Assistant Commissioner Marlin Degrand said he reviewed security surveillance video from inside the casino. RCMP said Bond was shot first — in the right arm; Wynn was shot in the head.
“It was a very, very short and sharp confrontation. We’re talking three to five seconds,” said Degrand. “They were trying to actually place hands on the individual to talk to him and apprehend him and he pulled away and two shots were fired.”
READ MORE: St. Albert RCMP shooter identified as Shawn Rehn
Bond, 49, was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and released Saturday night. Ryan said he will require ongoing medical care.
Ryan said Wynn, a 42-year-old with a wife and three children, has yet to regain consciousness.
“Dave remains in hospital in Edmonton with his family at his side. I had the opportunity to go to his bedside yesterday and I used the short time I had with him to tell him how incredibly grateful Canadians are to him for his willingness to accept the dangers of the front line, in service to his fellow citizens.
“As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for both families.”
WATCH: Alberta RCMP update St. Albert shooting Sunday evening
Wynn, who joined the RCMP in 2009, also works as a school resource officer with St. Albert Public Schools.
Cheryl Dumont, vice chair of the school board, says Wynn has been working as an instructor of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program for about five years.
“We are a really tight-knit community here within our schools and it just rippled right through our community. So many people know Constable Wynn, our children know Constable Wynn.”
“He is a treasured member of our community, he has a great relationship with our kids.”
The following picture of Wynn was posted to the St. Albert Gazette’s website in May 2011.
Wynn is also well-known in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. He used to work as an Emergency Health Services paramedic in the community about 100 kilometres southwest of Halifax.
“When he made the decision to switch careers and join the RCMP, we supported him,” Bridgewater police said in a media release. “Our love and support go out to his family, friends and colleagues with the RCMP and EHS.”
WATCH: Bridgewater police chief John Collyer, who knows wounded RCMP Constable David Wynn, credits him for training fellow officers on how to use defibrillators while working as a paramedic.
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said Wynn was among the first responders called to the Swissair Flight 111 plane crash.
“The thoughts and prayers of all Nova Scotians are with David Wynn and his family in this difficult time,” said McNeil. “He helped Nova Scotians in their times of need for years and has served bravely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I’m sure I speak for the entire province when I say we are thinking of him.”
A memorial for the officers began to grow outside the St. Albert RCMP detachment Sunday morning. A sign at the Apex Casino, which will reopen Monday, read ‘God bless all RCMP’ Sunday morning.
NOTE: This article was originally published on Sunday, Jan. 18. It was updated Monday, Jan. 19 to include an update on Wynn’s condition from his family.
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