The murder of a Sturgeon Falls man in the small town of River Valley sent shockwaves through the community on March 13. Shortly after 5 p.m., police descended upon a residence on Bradley Street in the normally quiet neighbourhood near the school in River Valley and soon, word spread that a shooting had occurred. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) released very limited information the next day, confirming that a 53-year old man had been shot at the residence and was pronounced dead at the scene, and that they were in the early stages of a criminal investigation. No names were released at that time.
While police reassured the public that this was “an isolated incident and there is no threat to public safety,” they advised that there would be “a large police presence in the area” in the coming days as the West Nipissing OPP Crime Unit, the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, the OPP Forensic Identification Services and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service continued to investigate. They also appealed to the public for any information regarding the incident.
It wasn’t until Saturday, March 16 that OPP finally identified the victim as Joseph Genereux, age 53, from West Nipissing. Police also announced that Marc Larabie, age 48, also from West Nipissing, was charged with second degree murder, unauthorized possession of a firearm and knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm. The second degree murder charge suggests the killing was not premeditated or planned, but no indication of a motive was provided.
Larabie remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Superior Court of Justice in North Bay on April 12.
Police reiterated that this was an isolated incident with no threat to public safety, that the investigation was ongoing and that they were still interested in any information the public could provide. “Anyone with any information regarding the investigation is asked to call the Nipissing West OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca” indicated the last release.