The truck used in the June 6, 2021 incident involving Gerald Cooper in and around Merritt. (Image Credit: Global BC)

By James Peters

Merritt Shootout

IIO report describes dramatic 2021 shootout between fleeing suspect and Merritt RCMP

Nov 17, 2022 | 2:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — Ten days after a Fort St. John man was sentenced, a report from the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) is shedding light on how he engaged in a shootout with RCMP near Merritt — with his young son by his side.

On Nov. 7, Gerald Cooper was given concurrent sentences that will see him serve four years in prison after pleading guilty to five charges related to his actions near Merritt on June 6, 2021. A further five charges were stayed. The sentence will be served after he finishes a three-year sentence for a firearm charge out of Fort St. John.

Cooper, who was born in 1975, was injured by RCMP gunfire in the incident, which is why the IIO launched a concurrent investigation with RCMP.

According to a report published by the IIO, the series of events began near the community of Quilchena, when Cooper fled Mounties investigating incidents of property crime.

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RCMP eventually used a spike strip to disable the vehicle Cooper was driving — a one ton Ford F-350 with a flat deck. His son, a minor, was in the passenger seat.

With the truck continuing to travel on rims, Cooper began shooting in the direction of pursuing RCMP officers. Investigators later determined he was using a semi-automatic rifle that had been altered to allowing it to be fired in fully-automatic mode.

Cooper stopped the truck near Nicola Ranch. He and his son got out, the older man exchanging gunfire with RCMP officers.

The two eventually re-entered the truck and drove into Merritt with several police vehicles in hot pursuit.

There, the truck stopped again, and Cooper got out to fire at the pursuing officers. This time, his son exited the truck and surrendered to police, who took him to Nicola Valley Hospital for treatment of bullet fragment injuries to his chest.

Cooper eventually surrendered to RCMP after being hit in the abdomen by an RCMP bullet.

IIO Chief Civilian Director Ronald McDonald concluded the responding RCMP members were justified in firing on Cooper, given the man’s actions.

Read the full report:

by James Peters

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IIO report describes dramatic 2021 shootout between fleeing suspect and Merritt RCMP

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