A high-profile court case in the Greater Moncton area has finally come to an end after more than four years.
Janson Bryan Baker was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting a teacher outside Riverview High School on Jan. 5, 2021.
Baker pleaded guilty during the trial. A judge agreed with a joint recommendation from the Crown and Baker’s defence to nine years for shooting Chris Leger and another year for illegal possession of a firearm.
Leger and Joshua Hebb, another Riverview High teacher who witnessed the shooting, made emotional victim impact statements. Baker was allowed to address the courtroom before being sentenced.
“I feel terrible about what happened,” said Baker. “I am sorry, guys.”
During his victim impact statement, Leger said he was terrified and overwhelmed by the shooting and shortly afterwards he began to suffer from PTSD and acute depression.
Overcome with emotion, Leger had to pause a few times before saying he became snappy and moody around his children.
“I think, just like anyone when you’re communicating about things that affect family, it’s difficult and I’d say that it was during those parts that was most difficult for me,” said Leger after the sentencing.
Leger and Hebb were leaving the school around 5:30 p.m. when Baker, the lone occupant in the vehicle, approached them and demanded Leger’s bag.
Baker shot Leger in the shoulder, back and face with a 12-gauge shotgun.
Leger was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Baker was arrested in Amherst, N.S., the next day.
It was a long road to recovery physically, Leger said, and he suffers from permanent nerve damage in his left shoulder.
The shooting also impacted his work when he eventually returned to the classroom.
“I was more of a tutor than a teacher,” Leger told the court.
Hebb called Baker’s actions a “selfish moment” during his victim impact statement and said he still feels anger toward him.
Leger said the last four years have been a journey for him.
“It’s good to be done and I’m really happy that my family and I can move forward and kind of close the book on it,” said Leger outside the Moncton Law Courts.
“I’ve learned an awful lot about a lot of things I didn’t know before and I can say that I’ve had an innumerable amount of people that have been there for support and help through those four years and I think we’ve all grown because of it.”
Leger was asked if Baker’s apology meant anything to him.
“I think that it’s important that we all take ownership over our actions and he definitely did that today,” he said.
Hebb declined to comment on the sentencing.
Baker’s defence attorney said his client had a tough upbringing and began taking drugs when he was 13 years old.
He moved from marijuana to Percocet and then to hallucinogens and cocaine before becoming addicted to methamphetamine.
After his sentencing, the 28-year-old nodded to his mother, sister and stepfather, who were sitting in the middle of the courtroom.
Baker is also charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of a Dieppe couple on Sept. 7, 2019.
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
