RCMP release photos of pickup truck suspected in fatal hit and run of Brady Francis
CBC News | Posted: March 20, 2018 4:26 PM | Last Updated: March 20, 2018
Police want to talk to anyone who may have seen the truck on Feb. 24 between noon and 10 p.m.
RCMP are seeking information from the public about a pickup truck suspected in the hit-and-run death of Brady Francis in Saint-Charles last month.
Police released three photographs of the grey 2003 GMC Sierra 4 X 4 pickup truck on Tuesday, requesting anyone who saw the vehicle travelling in the Richibucto area on Feb. 24, between noon and 10 p.m. to contact them.
"We're asking people to look closely at the pictures we have released in the event they may have seen the vehicle that day and can provide us information on the vehicle and who was in it," Cpl. Jullie Rogers-Marsh said in a statement.
The truck has a camouflage-coloured wind deflector on the hood, camouflaged window deflectors over the driver and passenger side windows, a "Browning" decal over the front windshield, several camouflaged decals on the tailgate and decals on the rear window.
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Police responded to a hit and run on Saint-Charles Sud Road on Feb. 24, around 9:30 p.m.
Francis, 22, of Elsipogtog First Nation, was struck and killed.
RCMP have determined Francis was waiting for a drive home. He had been at a residence in Saint-Charles and had called for someone to pick him up.
He was found injured by friends who were driving by and died shortly after emergency crews arrived at the scene, RCMP have said.
The vehicle involved in the collision had already left.
A GMC logo was found at the scene.
Police seized a pickup truck the next day and spoke to its owner.
"It was returned to the owner after police gathered the information from it required for the investigation," Rogers-Marsh said Tuesday, without elaborating.
"Investigators have spoken to many people and now would like to speak to anyone who has information about where the truck was on February 24, but have not yet spoken to police."
Police believe the truck was primarily in the communities of Saint-Ignace, Saint-Charles and Saint-Louis-de-Kent that day, she said.
RCMP's decision to release the truck sparked angry comments on social media by some members of the Elsipogtog First Nation, who called for #JusticeforBrady.
But the young man's grandfather issued a plea for the public's patience and co-operation as the police investigation continued.
"We were assured by the RCMP that all resources are working hard and all hands are on deck," Kenneth Francis posted on Facebook. "They are working towards a conclusion … to help our Brady-Boy."
A vigil for Brady Francis, Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie is scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. at the Wallace McCain Student Centre in Sackville.
Organizers are asking people to gather to mark the "tragic loss of three previous, young Indigenous lives."
Anyone with information about the pickup truck is asked to call the Richibucto RCMP at 506-523-4611 or Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.