A quiet Friday night in Sarnia shattered into chaos, leaving a community reeling from a senseless act of violence. A triple shooting at the Lion’s Den, a popular campus pub at Lambton College, claimed the life of 20-year-old Dane Nisbet and injured two of his friends – all former teammates and lifelong companions.
The tragedy unfolded after a group of four men, two from London and two local to Sarnia, spent the evening barhopping. Witnesses described one member of the group as increasingly aggressive, actively seeking confrontation. The simmering tension first boiled over at a nearby restaurant, escalating into a broken window and a chilling glimpse of a firearm.
The group then moved to the Lion’s Den, where the escalating conflict reached a horrifying climax. As tensions flared once more, a man allegedly drew a Glock 45 handgun and unleashed a volley of shots, striking three unsuspecting individuals on the pub’s patio. The scene quickly descended into panic and disbelief.
Dane Nisbet, struck in the chest, succumbed to his injuries. His obituary paints a picture of a young man with a bright future, having recently completed fire school at Lambton College and eagerly awaiting acceptance into the Canadian Armed Forces. The two other victims, longtime friends of Nisbet’s, suffered injuries that were thankfully not life-threatening, but now grapple with the trauma of the night.
Police are meticulously piecing together the events, revealing a complex trail of the weapon. The Glock 45 was reportedly passed between multiple individuals after the shooting, eventually ending up in a motel room in Point Edward, just a short distance from the college. Investigators believe the firearm was illegally smuggled across the border from the United States.
Four individuals now face charges in connection with the shooting. Kyaw (Chin) Doe, 24, of London, remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Oudom (Richard) Bun, 23, also from London, is in custody, alongside two Sarnia residents, Johnathan Osborne-Walsh and Ava-Leigh Lightheart, facing a range of charges including murder and accessory after the fact.
The search for Doe is intensifying, with Sarnia police collaborating with law enforcement agencies across Ontario. Authorities believe his distinctive tattoos may hinder his ability to remain hidden, and have publicly urged him to surrender. The community holds its breath, hoping for a swift and peaceful resolution.
As Sarnia mourns the loss of Dane Nisbet, a community deeply rooted in hockey rallies together. The Mooretown Flags, the junior hockey team all three men once played for, held their year-end banquet just hours after the shooting, transforming it into a poignant tribute to Nisbet and a show of support for his grieving friends and family.
The funeral for Dane Nisbet is scheduled for Friday, offering a chance for the community to collectively grieve and remember a young life tragically cut short. The investigation continues, seeking answers and justice in the wake of this devastating event.
