Matrix Gathergood was charged with the first-degree murder of 78-year-old church elder Gordon Parmenter following the shooting during the Sunday morning service on April 14, 2019. His trial is scheduled to begin July 21, 2020.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK / Matrix Gathergood
July 20, 2020 - 2:58 PM
The trial for the Salmon Arm man charged with murder after a fatal shooting during a Salmon Arm church service in the at city in April last year is scheduled to start tomorrow.
Matrix Gathergood was charged with the first-degree murder of 78-year-old church elder Gordon Parmenter following the shooting during the Sunday morning service on April 14, 2019.
Eyewitness reports said Gathergood entered the Church of Christ in Salmon Arm with a rifle and shot Parmenter and another man. He was then wrestled to the ground by a group of parishioners who seized his rifle. Parmenter was pronounced dead at the scene and the other man was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
The RCMP said Parmenter was a grandfather who had fostered children over the years and knew Gathergood.
According to an article in the Christian Chronicle, Parmenter had befriended Gathergood, who was 25 years old at the time of the shooting, and had worshipped at the church on several occasions. Parmenter had tried to get him mental health services for Gathergood but hadn't succeeded.
Gathergood is also suspected of starting a fire that destroyed Parmenter's home one month before the fatal shooting. Gathergood was charged with arson in relation to a fire that took place on the same day Parmenter's home was destroyed.
The trial is set to begin Tuesday, July 21, at the Salmon Arm courthouse and is scheduled for three days.
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