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Vanderveen facing first-degree murder charge; publication ban imposed

Lee Lackey, 34, died of his injuries in a Toronto hospital over the weekend
justice

An Oro-Medonte Township resident is now facing a first-degree murder charge in relation to a shooting last week.

Peter Vanderveen, 69, was previously charged with attempted murder.

The victim, Lee William Lackey, 34, was found inside a home on Line 10 North last Wednesday when Orillia OPP officers, along with County of Simcoe Paramedic Services, responded to a reported shooting.

Lackey was transported to a Toronto-area hospital, but succumbed to his injuries over the weekend.

On Monday morning, Vanderveen appeared in court in a grey hoodie to hear the new charges be officially read.

“We were alerted over the weekend that the victim had died, that the attempted murder charge would be withdrawn and Mr. Vanderveen was then formally charged with first-degree murder,” defence attorney Mitch Eisen said outside of court on Monday morning.

Eisen declined to comment further on the details of the incident.

There is a publication ban in place on evidence heard during Monday morning’s proceedings.

Orillia OPP Const. Martin Hill told Village Media after the incident that the two men knew each other. He said it was not known if they were current residents of the address where the shooting occurred.

The accused was still on scene when police arrived and he was arrested without incident.

Police believe there is no threat to public safety.

"We believe it was an isolated incident," Hill said.

Vanderveen remains in custody. He is scheduled to be back in court on Feb. 19 in Orillia.


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Jessica Owen

About the Author: Jessica Owen

Jessica Owen is an experienced journalist working for Village Media since 2018, primarily covering Collingwood and education.
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