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Man Shot In Scrotum

Mon, February 14, 2005
Quebec man faces charges - Shooting victim 'lucky to be alive'
By LAURA CZEKAJ, Ottawa Sun

A 37-YEAR-OLD Quebec man appeared in court yesterday on several charges, including criminal negligence causing bodily harm, in relation to a bizarre shooting at a motel early Saturday morning. Mario Ethier, who has a lengthy criminal record, and a 29-year-old woman were arrested Saturday at the Adam's Airport Inn on Bank St. after a Sudbury man was shot by a bullet that came through the ceiling of his room from the floor above.
Ethier is also charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm, possession of a restricted weapon, possession weapon dangerous, mischief and breach of probation.
Wearing a knit turtleneck and sporting a thick beard, Ethier briefly stood before the court before being remanded into custody. Before leaving the court, Ethier said "Merci" to the judge in a deep voice.
The 44-year-old victim, who did not want to be named, was in the city visiting friends and family. He is self-employed and works in the information technology sector.
"He had visited his family and then he came into Ottawa because he had some friends in the area," said Det. Ken Williams. "He was socializing with them and (Friday) night he decided to stay inside and catch up on some work."
The victim was sitting in front of his laptop computer in a room on the inn's main floor at about 1 a.m. on Saturday when he heard a noise, saw a puff of smoke and realized his lap was bleeding.
The man didn't realize he had been shot and drove himself to the Ottawa Hospital's General campus. He was transferred to the Civic campus where he remained yesterday.
The bullet had entered his upper abdomen, his scrotum and thigh.
"Could it have been worse? Of course," said Williams. "Would I say that (the victim) is lucky to be alive? Yes."
Ottawa police investigators were still probing into why the suspect fired the gun, but said there is no connection between the accused and the victim.
Williams said it does not appear the victim was the intended target of the gunshot nor was the 29-year-old woman.
"There is nothing happening inside the room that caused him to have a premature malfunction," he said.
The woman who was arrested at the hotel is not being charged by police.
Investigators are trying to determine whether the suspect was aiming at something outside the room or why the gun went off. Only one shot was fired.
A search of the suspect's room revealed a 9 mm handgun and a quantity of marijuana and cocaine.