The Vanderhoof RCMP detachment is pictured in this image from Google Street View. A BC man who shot up the northern BC RCMP detachment during his lunch break has had his jail sentence cut in half following an appeal.

Image Credit: GOOGLE STREET VIEW

A BC man who shot up a northern BC RCMP detachment during his lunch break has had his jail sentence cut in half following an appeal.

The three-judge panel at the BC Court of Appeal said the 10-year sentence handed out to Paul Nicholas Russell was "crushing" and unduly harsh.

No one was injured during Russell's high-profile armed assault on the Vanderhoof RCMP detachment in November 2021, but schools were put on lockdown and emergency alerts were sent to cell phones.

A hunting and firearms enthusiast, Russell owned at least 20 weapons and at around noon arrived at the RCMP station in his pick-up truck. Without getting out he fired at two marked RCMP vehicles. He fired two shots at the detachment before driving to the other side of the building and firing a couple more rounds.

He then drove off, but returned about five minutes later and rammed an RCMP vehicle which he then shot at. He shot again at the building and at one point got out of his truck to fire his weapon.

He drove off and wasn't spotted again for about 30 minutes.

The RCMP chased him for a few kilometres before he pulled off into a parking lot and was arrested without incident.

He was 36 years old at the time and had no criminal record.

He was acquitted of attempted murder, but sentenced to 10 years for reckless discharge of a firearm and mischief endangering life.

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However, in the appeal, Russell's lawyers argued not enough weight had been put on the state of his mental health at the time.

The decision said he was diagnosed with a non-specified psychotic disorder in the days and weeks before the shooting.

"An unusual feature of this case was that he appeared to trust the police and had turned to them in the past when he was experiencing psychotic symptoms," Justice Janet Winteringham said in the decision.

The decision said Russell had been hospitalized twice shortly before the shooting and was suffering from a psychotic disorder.

"The experts had not landed on a diagnosis for (Russell) but it was indisputable that he had exhibited psychotic symptoms in the months leading up to the shooting which resulted in two multi-day hospitalizations," the Justice said. "This man, in his mid-30s, without a criminal record, was suddenly exhibiting disturbing psychotic symptoms... he was also exhibiting psychotic symptoms when he was assessed following his arrest."

The decision said his parents were trying to get help following their son’s "increasingly strange behaviour" but had found it difficult to find consistent medical help, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Court of Appeal Justices' were faced with deciding what moral blameworthiness Russell had because of his mental health.

"(Russell) was a first-time offender... He was also experiencing mental illness at the time of the offence which... attenuated his moral culpability," the Justice said.

"The evidence of his psychosis was documented by medical professionals and by engaged family members. Fortunately, he has responded well to the anti-psychotic medication prescribed during his time in custody," Justice Winteringham said.

Ultimately, the court of appeal reduced the sentence to five years.

As Russell has already spent a total of four years in custody and prisoners are usually released well before the end of their sentence, the Justices' move could see Russell released on parole soon, if he hasn't been already.

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