Drive-by shooter to begin statutory release in halfway house

One of the triggermen in a bout of drug-related drive-by gunplay will spend at least half of his statutory release at a halfway house.

Kenneth Ricardo Munroe, 38, must reside in a "community residential facility" for at least seven months. It was a special condition imposed by the national parole board in a decision issued May 24.

"This presents the halfway point to your Warrant Expiry Date (WED), it gives you sufficient time to complete a residential treatment program, it offers you accommodations and structure beyond the high-risk period of December-January, and serves as a more gradual and structured return to increased liberty interests in anticipation of your WED," the decision reads.

In February 2022, Munroe was sentenced to 5 1/2 years for reckless discharge of a prohibited firearm and possession of a prohibited firearm in relation role in the Oct. 8, 2020 incident. Less credit for time served prior to sentencing, he had three years and 177 days left to go at that point.

According to a joint statement of facts presented during the sentencing, Munroe, Bradley Andre Ouelette and Eric Vern West had targeted the home of a rival gang member in the 200 block of Bellos Street. 

Wielding sawed-off shotguns, Ouelette fired two shots at the house and Munro fired a single shot in the air, according to his statement to police. No one was injured.

West was the driver and led police on a high-speed chase, weaving through traffic and nearly side-swiping several vehicles before crashing through the front yard and fence of a home on McBride Crescent.

Munroe abandoned his shotgun in the car and fled on foot. With the help of a police dog, he was found hiding in some bushes. Police later found the shotgun, with the chamber empty and two live rounds in the magazine.

Munroe has resided at a halfway house since January 2023 when he was granted day parole in answer to his sobriety, the progress he had made, his commitment to change and his strong release plan. 

However, his performance while on release has been spotty.

Four days after it began, his release was suspended, when it was learned he had diverted medication to another parolee. The suspension was cancelled locally, and he "gradually stabilized in the community."

Day parole was continued for a further six months in July 2023 and January 2024, and a special condition to "follow treatment" was removed as Munroe had successfully completed all required programming.

But in March 2024, Munroe release was suspended again when he went unlawfully at large for about a week, and had "reverted to using drugs to cope with negative emotions when you found yourself feeling overwhelmed and anxious."

As he was remorseful and willing to seek help, the suspension was cancelled and he was escorted to a new treatment facility.

In April, his release was suspended once more after staff suspected he had engaged in a sexual relationship with a female resident at the facility and a laptop was found in his room.

As a consequence, Munroe had not completed the program.

"It is, therefore, reasonable that you remain in a residency situation at least until successfully completing another residential substance abuse treatment program," the decision reads.

In December 2022, West was sentenced to 5 1/2 years. Less credit for time served, he had a further two years two months and 15 days remaining and has since reached statutory release with a condition that he remain in a halfway house for at least three months. 

Ouelette, who fired a round at a police cruiser at the crash scene, leaving birdshot embedded in the windshield, was sentenced to eight years in February 2022. Less credit for time served prior to sentencing, he had six years left to serve.

Inmates are eligible for statutory release after completing two-thirds of their sentence, however the parole board can impose conditions.