London man pleads guilty in 2020 shooting death, claims no motive

A 21 year old London man pleaded guilty on Friday morning to second degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a man he killed five years ago on July 31.

In an agreed statement of facts (ASF), a Sarnia courtroom heard how on July 31, 2020, David Oliver, 29, of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation was shot in the head twice while smoking marijuana with the man who pulled the trigger.

The man who pleaded guilty was tried as a youth and cannot be identified because he was 17 years old at the time of the shooting.

The court heard how the two men were known to each other and were sitting in two separate vehicles near Army Camp Road in the summer of 2020 when they decided to share a joint.

According to the ASF, something came over the teenager that night who had a firearm in his truck, “He had a sudden feeling to pick up a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle and shoot David.”

Later it stated, “He proceeded to empty the magazine of the firearm which was approximately 10 shots…he wasn’t thinking and doesn’t know why he did it.”

After that, he was trying cover up the shooting by moving the body and vehicle, which police would locate days later in the area.

In the months and years following the killing, OPP interviewed the suspect several times, even getting an undercover officer to befriend the man.

The court heard, “He initially denied any involvement in the murder of David.” However in the fall of 2024 he confessed saying, “He did not know why he killed David and he did not plan it.”

Before any arrests were made in the case, OPP and Crime Stoppers would offer a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer.

On Friday, the courtroom was packed with the victim’s family and friends with standing room only for the proceedings.

At the end of the ASF the court heard, “He would like to tell the Oliver family that he is sorry for everything and sorry for hurting them. He is not asking for forgiveness and is taking responsibility.”

The man will be back in court on on Oct. 20 for his sentencing hearing.