Man killed before London, Ont., standoff remembered for his 'unwavering kind heart'
CBC
Joel Cameron's friends say they want him to be remembered as someone who was "a best friend to everyone."
Cameron, 41, was found unresponsive with serious injuries at 621 Kipps Lane when emergency crews arrived at around 5 a.m. on Saturday morning. He was pronounced dead a short time later, London Police said.
"I'm still in shock," said Jocelyn Kiser, a friend of Cameron's from high school who said she found out about the man's death through a Facebook message from a mutual friend.
"It's really sad, he was so well loved. He didn't have a single enemy growing up. If you ever needed someone, Joel would always be there for you, it's a real shame," she said.
Cameron's death has sent shock waves through their friend group, Kiser said. Cameron had a son and worked as a plumber, friends said.
Kiser says Cameron also struggled with his mental health and addiction, but successfully sought support through rehab.
"He tried his best to raise his son and never gave up his fight," she said. "He really tried hard for a positive healthy life."
After Cameron was found unresponsive by police, another man locked himself in a sixth-floor unit of the apartment building. Police said he was armed.
For 15 hours, heavily-armed tactical officers negotiated with him; two officers were seriously injured and the man was arrested a short time later, around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Police have since charged Adrian Neil Campbell, 42, with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. His next scheduled court appearance is March 20.
Cameron and Campbell knew each other from their time at Saunders Secondary School, friends said.
Kiser said the friend group was also very concerned for Campbell's well-being after seeing some of his erratic Facebook posts, and said they tried to get him mental-health support.
"There was clearly something going on and it was obvious he had mental health challenges," said Wendy Mallow, who lives on the same floor as Campbell.
Mallow and several neighbours complained to building management, Medallion Corporation, on numerous occasions about the man who was arrested, but there wasn't much of a response, she told CBC News.