The 70-year-old man accused of shooting down an Ontario Provincial Police officer earlier this week has died.
Fred Preston, a woodcarver, hunter and former politician, died from gunshot wounds in a London, Ont. hospital yesterday evening, his relatives said. Mr. Preston had been injured in a gunfight with police.
One of his older brothers - Mr. Preston was the youngest of three who lived most of their lives in the 1,000-person town of Sundridge, Ont. - expressed shock when reached at his home last night.
"I was kind of expecting one of us would go, but I didn't expect it to happen this way," said the brother, who asked not to be identified. "It's been tough, there are so many questions we can't answer."
He says they will probably never know what caused Monday's gunfight in the hamlet of Leadbury, north of London, Ont., outside the home where Mr. Preston's estranged wife Barb had been staying with her sister.
The couple, who had been high school sweethearts, broke up over a year ago, friends said this week, adding that he was left heartbroken by the failed relationship. They described Mr. Preston, a retired logger, as a congenial man.
John Kerr, who sold Mr. Preston's animal woodcarvings, said he was in great shape for his age. Other neighbours said he was a regular at town dances and social events. He was elected reeve of nearby Joly Township in the early 1990s and served until 2003.
Mr. Preston had been in critical condition since Monday and was taken off life support last night, according to another relative who asked not to be named.