Former junior hockey player and former Lambton College student Dane Nisbet has died after a shooting outside a campus pub in Sarnia, as police continue to search for multiple suspects and investigate what they describe as a senseless act of violence.
Nisbet, a 20-year-old Sarnia man, died in hospital after the shooting shortly before 1 a.m. Friday on the patio outside the Lion’s Den pub at Lambton College, police said. Two other men were injured, though their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
“I extend my most profound condolences to Dane’s family. This is a senseless and unnecessary tragedy that will impact so many people,” Deputy Police Chief Michael Van Sickle said during a news conference at Sarnia police headquarters Friday morning.
Nisbet was known in the local hockey community, having played for the Sarnia Legionnaires, Mooretown Flags and North Middlesex Stars, according to his online hockey profile.
“(It’s) beyond sad; to me it’s very surreal,” John Baker, general manager of the Mooretown Flags junior C hockey team, said Friday. “I can’t wrap my head around it.”
Baker said Nisbet had enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces and was in the waiting period before joining. He said that was why Nisbet played for North Middlesex this past season after spending parts of the previous three seasons in Mooretown.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dane Nisbet, a tough and talented player whose passion for the game touched everyone lucky enough to know him,” the North Middlesex Stars said in a statement.
“Dane will be remembered for his kindness, determination and always looking out for his teammates.”
Lambton College president and chief executive Rob Kardas confirmed Friday afternoon that Nisbet was a former student.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones,” he said in a statement. “Our thoughts are also with the two others injured this morning and with everyone impacted by the senseless act of violence that occurred in the early hours of this morning at our student administrative council-run pub on campus.”
Police said all three men knew each other, though investigators have not explained how or whether the suspects knew the victims. No arrests had been made and no weapons had been recovered as of Friday. Van Sickle said a canine unit and emergency response team searched the area, but the suspects fled before officers arrived.
“That information will come out in the future,” he said, when asked for more detail about the number of shots fired.
Police said they have no information suggesting Lambton College or the wider crowd at the pub was targeted. Still, the shooting forced the closure of one of Ontario’s 24 publicly funded colleges on Friday, with all classes and on-campus activities cancelled.
“This is a shocking and saddening event for our community,” the college said. “Support resources are available to students through the counselling page on MyLambton.”
The killing marks the second homicide linked to Lambton College in the past 16 months, following the fatal stabbing of an international student at an off-campus house where he rented a room.
