12-hour standoff in London, Ont. ends with murder charge, 2 officers shot

Amy Simon GlobalNews.ca

March 13, 2023 8:09 am

London, Ont. police say a man is facing second-degree murder charges after the death of a man at an apartment building. He is also facing two counts of attempted murder, following the injury of two police officers. Police said the man was arrested following a 12-hour standoff, with the man shooting a firearm once at police resulting in the injuries. One officer has been discharged from hospital, while the other remains with serious injuries. The suspect and victim were known to each other, police said.

London, Ont., police have laid charges, including second-degree murder, in relation to an ongoing death and weapons investigation from the weekend.

Police say emergency crews found a man with serious injuries following multiple stab wounds in an apartment building at 621 Kipps Lane around 5 a.m. Saturday.

He was taken to hospital and later died.

The deceased has been identified as Joel A. Cameron, 41, of London.

Investigators say some surrounding buildings in the east-London neighbourhood were evacuated as the suspect was believed to have a firearm and barricaded himself in the six-story apartment complex for most of the day on Saturday.

In the confirmed 12 hours-long standoff, police said the accused shot a firearm once at police, resulting in two officers being taken to hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries around 7:30 p.m.

In a news conference Monday morning, acting chief Trish McIntyre said Saturday’s shooting marks the eighth in the city this year.

“I cannot adequately express to you what it is like to receive a call that an officer has been injured in the line of duty, much less two officers who very well could have been more seriously injured or killed in this incident,” she said. “I visited with both officers in hospital on Saturday, and I can tell you that both are in good spirits despite all they’ve been through.”

On the officers who were shot, Acting Chief McIntyre says one has been treated and released from hospital, while another remains in hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. She shares details from her visit to the hospital #LdnOnt pic.twitter.com/NliOcV2kuI

— Andrew Graham (@andrewjwgraham) March 13, 2023

According to McIntyre, one officer was treated for their injuries and released from hospital while the other remains with serious injuries.

Every day our front line @lpsmediaoffice officers put themselves in harms way to serve our community. On behalf of Council: you have our sincere thanks for everything you and the members of @LdnPoliceAssoc do every day.

Our thoughts are with them for a full and speedy recovery. https://t.co/yaLP6p6feA

— Josh Morgan (@JoshMorganLDN) March 12, 2023

Additionally, McIntyre said that as police began negotiating, the suspect posted videos and photos to Facebook from inside the barricaded unit and could be seen blaring loud music from DJ turntables and taunting police through his social media account.

The video also showed the suspect allowing one man out of the unit while police stood guard outside and around the building.

Written posts published by the suspect can also be seen with phrases including “last man standing” and “nothing left to lose.”

“Social media is alive and well, and I think you’re seeing the use of that proliferate through everything, including criminal events,” McIntyre said, confirming that the suspect was previously known to police.

The suspect was taken into custody around 8:30 p.m. and a firearm was located, ending the hours-long standoff.

Police also confirmed Monday that the suspect and the victim were known to each other.

Adrian Neil Campbell, 42, of London, has been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

The accused is scheduled to reappear in court on March 20.