A Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer charged in a fatal shooting in Ridgetown is now only facing one charge.
The criminal negligence causing death charge against Sean O'Rourke, 57, was dropped by the Crown in Chatham Superior Court on Friday morning.
O'Rourke is still facing a manslaughter charge and will go to trial on May 12, 2025.
O'Rourke is accused of killing a 25-year-old man on Highway 401 near Ridgetown in July of 2021.
Officer O'Rourke was responding to a reported gas theft near Ridgetown when the victim was shot in the upper torso.
The victim later died at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
The May trial in Chatham is expected to last 7-8 days.
Two publication bans are in place that prohibit any publication of information that could identify the victim or witnesses and another prohibiting the publication of any evidence heard during the pre-trial stage.
