A 44-year-old Whitecourt man who was shot down at his workplace over the weekend is being remembered as a loving family man who was a pillar of the northwestern Alberta community.
David Beauchesne, a husband, father and local youth hockey coach, was shot to death on Saturday afternoon at the industrial shop near Whitecourt, where he worked as a foreman.
Mathew Charles Jackson — a 43-year-old Whitecourt resident and Beauchesne’s one-time colleague — has been charged with second-degree murder.
The Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit is investigating. The death is also under investigation by workplace safety officials with Occupational Health and Safety.
‘Brilliant father and husband’
A community fundraiser has been established on GoFundMe for Beauchesne’s wife and his young son and daughter. It describes him as a beloved husband, father and friend.
“We are all truly devastated by this, Dave wasn’t just a brilliant father and husband but a pillar of our community and loved by all who crossed paths with him,” the fundraiser says.
Tarran Young, a friend of the family, said Beauchesne was a joy to be around.
“Dave was truly a devoted husband, dad and friend,” Young said in a statement to CBC.
“He embraced everything that he did with a smile on his face. His absence leaves a deep void in all of our lives.”
Whitecourt RCMP said officers were called around 3:30 p.m. Saturday to a shooting at a business near the Whitecourt Airport.
Police said that as the call came in, officers were given the location of the suspected shooter, who had fled the scene and was driving on Highway 43.
Officers stopped the vehicle and detained a suspect. A firearm was recovered during the arrest, RCMP said.
Meanwhile, paramedics and police arrived at the scene and found Beauchesne dead, police said.
In a statement to CBC, company officials said Beauchesne had worked at Strike Group — an energy and industrial construction and maintenance services company — for 18 years.
He was employed as a shop foreman at the company’s Whitecourt location. It is near the local airport, located just west of the town, in Woodlands County.
In a statement, Strike Group Limited Partnership said the man charged in the killing was a contractor who had been employed by Strike Group for a “short period of time.”
Company officials declined to comment further on the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
Their staff, they said, are grieving Beauchesne, who they described as a loyal and respected employee.
“Our priority at this time is the family of Dave and our employees,” said Stephen Smith, CEO of Strike Group.
Grief counsellors have been called in to assist employees, company officials said.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Dave’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragedy.”
RCMP said Jackson remains in custody. He was due to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Whitecourt on Tuesday.
Beauchesne was active in his community and often volunteered his time as a youth hockey and baseball coach.
A handful of local businesses have created fundraising campaigns to support the family.
In a statement Monday, officials with Northern Gateway Public Schools offered their condolences to the family, and said support services would be offered to students.
Young said his loss is being widely felt in Whitecourt.
“He was a one-in-a-million guy. Our community is truly feeling it.”