MONDAY
K A M L O O P S
THIS WEEK
ONLINE ALL THE TIME: BREAKING NEWS AND UPDATES AT KAMLOOPSTHISWEEK.COM Monday, December 31, 2012 X Volume 25 No. 104 www.kamloopsthisweek.com X 30 cents at Newsstands
”
NOTABLE QUOTES IN 2012 “I think everyone has a best-before date and I have the sense that I’m approaching mine.” — Veteran B.C. Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger on calling it quits, stating he will not seek re-election in order to spend more time with his family. (June 28) “It’s not necessary to spray chemicals to kill dandelions — dandelions are people, too.” — Coun Tina Lange responding to rookie councillor Donovan Cavers’ proposed ban on pesticides for the general public. (May 29) “. . . But, I don’t think I could even hit Arjun [Singh]. So, I suggested Jim Whittaker. He’d probably like to kick my ass.” — Coun. Donovan Cavers on the proposal of a celebrity boxing challenge to raise funds for a local charity. (April 3) “I think it’s a very wellproduced informational video for stock promotion, but not really what I was expecting for an informational.” — Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar’s initial reaction to a 3D video on the proposed Ajax copper and gold mine, produced by proponent KGHM Ajax.
Megan Barnes was 17 in 2010 when the fatal shooting of Wilbert Bartley by police happened right in front of her, as she worked in a bistro (now a different restaurant, behind her in the photo). For some reason, Barnes was never connected to RCMP Victim Services. Now, two-and-a-half years later, Barnes continues to suffer an eating disorder, panic attacks and more from what she witnessed that day. Dave Eagles/KTW
Shock of shooting death still haunts By Tim Petruk STAFF REPORTER
tim@kamloopsthisweek.com
Megan Barnes can remember in excruciating detail the exact moment her life changed forever. It was the summer of 2010 and the then-17-yearold was working her first job — a part-time gig at the restaurant next to the Robo Esso on Tranquille Road in North Kamloops. Barnes had held the position for two months. She was trying to save enough money to move out of the home she had been sharing with her alcoholic mother. Fifteen minutes after closing time on July 30, 2010, Barnes and another employee were tidying up. She was grabbing a mop and bucket from a back room when she heard a commotion out front. Two employees from the neighbouring gas station were in front of the restaurant — known then as So
Espresso Bistro — waving their arms. “I dropped my stuff and I went over to have a look,” Barnes told KTW. “All of the sudden, it smashed right in.” “It” being a Toyota 4-Runner SUV, driven that day by Wilbert Bartley. A few days from his 51st birthday, Bartley was shot and killed by Kamloops RCMP Const. Clay Kronebusch outside the Robo Esso as Barnes was grabbing her mop and bucket inside the bistro. After the officer fired three shots — each striking Bartley’s head — the SUV accelerated forward and plowed through the front window of the restaurant. Barnes stood frozen inside, watching Bartley bleed out onto the floor she was about to mop. The 4-Runner was lodged on a table inside the restaurant, but Bartley’s foot was still pushing down on the gas as he sat dead in the driver’s seat. “The tires were spinning and screeching and smoking and squealing,” she said.
“I couldn’t move. He was bleeding from the side of his head and his eyeballs were popped out of his head.” Barnes said she had trouble processing what was playing out in front of her. At first, she thought the man behind the wheel was somebody who had been kicked out of the bistro for passing out on a seat earlier in the day. That man was dark-skinned and native, Barnes said. Bartley was white. “That was all the blood,” she said. “His skin looked dark to me because there was so much blood.” She thought he was wearing sunglasses before she noticed his eyes were no longer in their sockets. “I thought this guy was coming in to kill us,” she said. “We kicked him out earlier. I thought he wanted to kill us.” Unable to deal with what was happening, Barnes said she broke down.
X See I’M NOT A4
OUR BEST SAVINGS OFFER EVER! Buy 1 complete pair of RX glasses at regular price & get a *
FREE 2ND PAIR of Prescription Glasses & *FREE Disposable Contacts. tacts. *Some restrictions apply. See instore for complete details. This offer expires January 5th, 2013.
SHARE THE SPARE PAIR! Bring a friend ... can be 2 different prescriptions! ptions!
EYES
INTERNATIONAL Licensed Optician
331 Victoria Street
25O-851-8992
3 1 FOR
SIGHT GHT TE TESTING! STING!
Voted ed Free with purchase. Call For Details oops’ Kamloops’ cal Store e Best Optical