“Riverdale” star Ryan Grantham
He shot his mother and plotted to kill Justin Trudeau
Ryan Grantham
© Andrew Chin / Getty Images
Ryan Grantham stands trial. The actor has confessed to killing his mother. He is also said to have had plans to assassinate Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Now he faces a life sentence.
It’s a tragic turn that takes young Ryan Grantham’s life with a horrific act. The 24-year-old was at the beginning of his acting career. Now he may have to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Ryan Grantham apparently planned to kill the Canadian PM
In March, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He had shot his mother. According to media reports, he is said to have had plans to kill Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The hearing took place this week in British Columbia’s Supreme Court, where prosecutors took a closer look at the young man’s mental state at the time of the crime, Canadian news site CBC writes.
Ryan Grantham said his mother was a caring and compassionate person who didn’t deserve what he did to her. “I can neither explain nor justify my actions. There is no excuse,” he read a statement in a clear but emotional voice on the third and final day of his hearing. “It hurts me to think how much I’ve wasted my life.” An apology seems “so pointless in the face of something so horrible,” Ryan continued, “but I’m sorry with every fiber of my being.”
The “Riverdale” star turned himself in to the police
As “CBC” reports, Grantham shot his mother, Barbara Waite, in the back of the head on March 31, 2020 while she was playing the piano at her home. The next day he loaded his car with guns, ammunition, 12 Molotov cocktails and directions to Rideau Cottage in Ottawa to kill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who lived there with his family. Along the way, he says he toyed with the idea of killing people at Simon Fraser University, where he was enrolled, at the Lions Gate Bridge, or other locations before finally turning himself in to the police.
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At the beginning of the hearing, the court learned details about the course of events. Ryan Grantham, who is an experienced marksman and gun owner, had rehearsed the killing in the days prior. He stood behind Barbara Waite, † 64, aimed the gun at her, but did not pull the trigger. On the day of the murder, he is said to have sat on the steps of the townhouse for almost 15 minutes, contemplating what to do before shooting his mother. In a four-minute video shown in court, Grantham confesses to his crime and shows his mother’s body.
The actor faces a life sentence
In the months before his mother’s murder, the actor was in a downward spiral, was depressed and had thoughts of murder and suicide, the court said. Defense attorney Chris Johnson stated that mental illness played a role in Grantham’s behavior and that he feels great regret. “At the time, this killing was not committed out of hatred or animosity, but in Mr. Grantham’s deranged thinking, to prevent his mother from seeing what he was about to do,” Johnson said.
The automatic sentence for second-degree murder is life imprisonment. It’s unclear when Ryan Grantham can apply for parole. While his defense attorneys are asking for a 12-year period, prosecutors have asked for 17 to 18 years. “One day, if I’m ever released from prison, I hope to be able to continue on my road to recovery,” Ryan said.
The young Canadian had a promising acting career ahead of him. He was seen in hit series such as “Riverdale”, “Supernatural” and “iZombie” as well as in the films “Greg’s Diary” and “The Cabinet of Doctor Parnassus”.
Sources used: cbc.ca, people.com, ew.com