London Mourns Robert Rico Rivard Following Deadly Central Avenue Shooting

 Robert Rico Rivard, 48, is being mourned by family, friends and loved ones after a fatal shooting in downtown London, Ontario. Police were called to the area of Central Avenue and Richmond Street at approximately 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following reports of a possible shooting. Officers and emergency responders arrived and found Rivard suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died despite medical efforts.

The death has left people close to Rivard facing a sudden loss. The information available publicly about his life remains limited, so details about his family background, occupation, interests and other personal milestones have not been established. What is known is that he was 48 and had connections to people in the London community who are now grieving his death and remembering the moments they shared with him.

Police have identified 21-year-old Mohamed Abdel Aziz Soumahoro of Laval, Quebec, as the accused in connection with the shooting. According to police, Soumahoro faces charges including second-degree murder, firearm-related offences and failure to comply with a release order. Police have also said Rivard and Soumahoro were known to one another. The relationship between the two is part of the circumstances authorities are continuing to examine as the case moves through the justice system.

Soumahoro remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in London court on October 7, 2026. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. As the legal process develops, further evidence and testimony may provide additional information about what preceded the shooting and the events that followed. Until then, conclusions about the accused or the circumstances should remain grounded in information formally released by authorities or established through court proceedings.

For Rivard’s loved ones, however, the loss is personal rather than procedural. A death following a violent incident can leave families dealing with grief while public attention focuses on an investigation and criminal case. Those closest to Rivard are now left with memories of a man whose life cannot be reduced to the circumstances of his death. Their mourning will unfold alongside a process that may take time to establish the full account of what happened.

The downtown shooting has also become part of a broader conversation about safety and violence in the community, but the available information does not establish a broader pattern or explain why this particular incident occurred. Police continue handling the investigation, while the court process involving the accused proceeds separately. Additional details may emerge as investigators gather evidence, witnesses are interviewed and court proceedings begin, although some information may remain unavailable while the case is active.

At this stage, publicly available information about Rivard’s personal life, funeral arrangements and memorial services remains limited. For his family and friends, the priority is the difficult work of grieving and remembering someone they knew beyond a police report or courtroom allegation. Robert Rico Rivard’s death has left an absence for those who shared parts of his life, and those memories will remain with them as the investigation continues. His loved ones have asked for time to process a loss that came without warning. Friends and family can share memories, preserving the personal stories and experiences that defined Rivard for those who knew him closely and loved him.