NORTH GLENGARRY SHOOTING LEAVES 1 DEAD, 2 INJURED

Police Link Marijuana Grow Operation To Killing Near Maxville

One man has been killed and two others are battling life-threatening
injuries after a shooting yesterday that police say was related to a
marijuana grow operation just outside of Greenfield, a village near
Maxville north of Cornwall.

The shooting happened at 18985 Kenyon Concession 5, in the North
Glengarry Township at around 3 p.m. Police have two men in custody,
and found the weapon at the scene of the shooting.

Police initially responded to the shooting but found the grow
operation afterwards. When they arrived at the large property, they
found two men bleeding from gunshot wounds and another already dead.
One of the men shot was airlifted to the Civic campus of the Ottawa
Hospital, while the other was first taken to a hospital in
Alexandria, but was later sent to Ottawa. Both men are in critical
condition. The name of the man who was killed has not been released.

After the shooting, OPP set up a command centre and closed the rural
road where houses stand kilometres apart. Police were tight-lipped on
what was going on while residents said they weren't allowed to get to
their homes on the road.

Neighbours say news of the shooting spread quickly through the rural
area. "We heard a killer was running around with a gun in his hand,"
said Laura Brossoit, who lives nearby.

"My son saw a helicopter flying around the house and there was an
ambulance. A woman who had a babysitter with her kids couldn't get
onto the road, she had to call and tell her to keep them inside."

Lise Leblanc and her husband, Yvon, have a 32-acre farm across the
street of the property police are investigating.

Police kept her from going home for four hours after she returned at
4 p.m. "They said it was not safe to go home yet," she said. "But
they did not tell me anyone had been hurt. Or was dead. Rumours are
they were still hunting for someone."

Ms. Leblanc said she heard gunshots yesterday morning but thought it
was hunters in the area. She didn't know the people who lived at the
property, but said she thinks they were from Montreal and had bought
the property about four or five years ago. She did not think they
were working the farm, but said they had built a large barn-like structure.

"They never really talked to us, and because our homes are far back
from the road, it is hard to see anything." There were always people
coming and going from the property, however, she said, adding that an
older man used to wave at her from the farm on occasion.

The OPP helicopter, theTactics and Rescue Unit, and Emergency
Response Teams, including canine and uniformed officers were still on
scene and investigating as of late last night. No details were
released on the victims.

The rural areas around the shooting are regularly patrolled this time
of year by helicopter searching for hidden marijuana plants in
secluded cornfields.