Shooting victim's biker past not connected to his death, family says

A Fredericton shooting victim left Bacchus Motorcycle Club a year before his death, aiming to spend more time with his two teenage sons.

But his family says Donnie Robichaud's biker past is notconnected to the shooting that took his life.

"He was away from his sons a lot and he wanted more time with them," said his wife, Melissa Robichaud.

"He felt like a bad father. He felt like a bad husband."

• 'Why him?' Wife, children mourning Fredericton shooting victim
• What we know so far about the Fredericton shooting

Donnie, 42, one of four victims of the shootings Friday, was a full-patch member of the New Brunswick-founded Bacchus Motorcycle Club before he left it about a year ago.

Police have described the clubas an outlaw motorcycle gang. It has also been described by investigators as the Switzerland of motorcycle clubs for its ability to get along with others, including Hells Angels.

In his obituary photo, Donnie is smiling, standing in front of a motorcycle and wearing a jacket with a patch declaring him a "Bacchus supporter."

The men in that club would become his brothers, according to Melissa, even after he left it behind.

Doesn't believe suspect knew husband

Police have yet to find any personal link between Donnie or any of the other three victims of Friday's shootings and the alleged gunman, 48-year-old Matthew Vincent Raymond.

The Robichaudsseparated in December, and the next month Donnie moved into the apartment complex where the shootings occurred.

Melissa Robichaud does not believe her husband knew Raymond.

Donnie was killed alongside his girlfriend, 32-year-old Bobbie Lee Wright, and Fredericton police officers Const. Robb Costello and Const. Sara Burns.

Bikers mourn

Police have charged Raymond with four counts of first-degree murder in connection with their deaths.

It's alleged that he fired at the victims in the parking lot from an apartment window, killing Donnie and Wright, and then the two police officers.

As Melissa and her children grieve, she said Donnie's biker family is also trying to come to grips with what happened.The Bacchus Fredericton clubhouse posted about Donnie onFacebook on Saturday.

"Hard to believe this happened so close to home! RIP Donnie!!" the post says.

"They're all mourning him right now," Melissa said.

She said she expected many members of the club would attend a private, family viewing scheduled for Monday.

'Wind therapy'

Donnie joined the Val Hellions motorcycle club about four years ago, according to his family.

He later patched over to its parent club, Bacchus, drawn by the feeling of brotherhood among its members.

"They were all there for each other," Melissa said."They had each other's backs."

Even though he'd left Bacchus behind, Donnie still loved riding. He spent a winter restoring his Harley-Davidson motorcycle just the way he liked it.

"It was wind therapy, where he didn't have to think about anything except what was in front of him," Melissa said.

"All of his problems disappeared."

A biker's prayer

When she picked up his belongings from the police station on Sunday, Melissa kept close a silver chain with a biker's prayer engraved on it.

Donnie never took it off, she said, and he was wearing it at the time of his death.

"Let the moon's light guide me through the night," it reads.

"Lord, thank you for letting me be a biker."