Merritt RCMP are mourning the loss of a young man who turned a gun on himself outside their detachment just over a week ago.

The incident happened on Dec. 5 just after 4:30 p.m., when officers walked outside after hearing gunshots, just outside of their detachment on Voght Street, to find a man with a rifle. Mounties took cover, and shortly after the man turned the gun on himself.

The situation prompted a response from the Independent Investigation Office of B.C., which determined in short order that police had no role in the outcome.

The detachment’s spokesperson, Sgt. Josh Roda, says officers had to bear witness the incident.

“Our hearts hurt with his family and we hope that tragic incidents like this encourage people to reach out for help before it’s too late.”

Roda says police are not immune to the mental toll of witnessing violent and concerning incidents on a regular basis.

“As my colleague often says, we put our pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else. We are people too,” Roda says.

“There is no amount of training that someone can receive that would prepare them to witness these unspeakable tragedies or prepare them to be verbally and physically attacked because of the uniform they wear.”

Roda says his members are proud of the supports available after officers are involved in high-stress, critical incidents.

“As police officers, and members of the community; our hope is for the public to hold back from casting judgement without facts, and think about those men and women serving their communities that it may affect.”