Police cleared after B.C. man fatally shot 11 times | 24CA News
Officers did nothing mistaken in killing a person with a hail of gunfire, the province’s police watchdog has dominated, with 11 bullets piercing the person’s physique in B.C.’s Interior two years in the past.
On Friday, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) launched a six-page report of the Aug. 31, 2021, incident in Quesnel.
On that day, the B.C. RCMP issued a press release, saying “when officers approached the man reportedly reached for a firearm, and shots were fired. The man was transported to local hospital where he was declared deceased.”
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According to this week’s report, it began when a police officer noticed a parked Jeep Cherokee simply after 3 a.m., with the automobile’s engine operating.
Closed-circuit cameras from neighbouring premises captured the Jeep coming into the car parking zone simply off Carson Avenue at 1:41 a.m. on a darkish and wet evening.
The report stated the officer famous that the Jeep had did not cease for police two days earlier. The officer stated he may hear the engine operating, however couldn’t see anyone inside.
Three minutes later, at 3:20 a.m., two extra officers arrived in a marked police automobile, with one other in an unmarked police automobile. The report stated all their emergency lights had been activated.
“The witness officers told IIO investigators that when they approached the Jeep, they found (the suspect) apparently asleep in the reclined driver’s seat. Beside him on the passenger side floor, though, they also observed a shotgun.”
The report continued, saying “the officers recognized (the suspect) as a local drug trafficker known to carry weapons. (He) had a significant criminal record involving firearms and drugs offences and was currently subject to a weapons prohibition and an outstanding arrest warrant.”
The officers then drew their pistols and stepped again behind their autos, with two officers retrieving physique armour and carbine rifles.
They referred to as for help, with a K9 unit and one other officer responding.
“The police plan was to cover the Jeep, blocked in by police vehicles, to call (the suspect) out and to get him down on the ground to be arrested. The subject officers both issued verbal commands to (him) to come out of his vehicle and to show his hands,” reads the report.
One officer advised the IIO that he noticed motion contained in the Jeep and heard one other officer yelling “Do not reach for the gun, step out of your vehicle, show me your hands.”
“Seconds before 3:26 a.m., an officer on the police dispatch channel is recorded saying, ‘He’s reaching’, while another officer is shouting in the background,” reads the report.
The last officer who arrived on scene additionally heard an officer say one thing to the impact that the motive force of the Jeep was loading a firearm.
“(The second officer) said he saw (the suspect) leaning over toward the passenger side of the Jeep, and believed he was reaching for the shotgun. He said the Jeep’s engine was revving as if (the suspect’s) foot was pressed on the accelerator as he leaned over,” reads the report.
Around 30 to 40 seconds later, a shot was heard, with police gunfire rapidly following.
“(The first witness officer) described hearing the initial shot shortly after the (subject officer) said ‘he is loading his gun’ and then hearing numerous other gunshots in response. He said he believed the initial shot came from the Jeep,” reads the report.
Within 10 seconds, it was throughout. The report stated one officer fired between 26 and 29 photographs.
As extra police arrived, officers approached the automobile and located the motive force unresponsive, holding the shotgun.
“The autopsy report showed that (the suspect) died from a total of 11 bullet wounds. All wounds were directionally from back to front, with none having been fired at close range,” reads the report. “Damage to the Jeep from bullet perforations was consistent with that.”
One officer stated the shotgun was going through up, towards the windshield, whereas one other stated he noticed the suspect’s proper hand on or close to the gun’s pistol grip. Another officer stated the Jeep’s sunroof had been “smashed out.”
The shotgun was taken, with police discovering a spent 12-gauge casing contained in the chamber.
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The IIO stated there have been no civilian witnesses, however was in a position to consider the incident from police, attending paramedics who heard the gunshots from two blocks away, recordings of radio transmissions and inspecting the scene and suspect’s automobile.
“The involved officers were acting in lawful execution of their duty, initially investigating a suspicious vehicle that had earlier fled from police, and then attempting to arrest (the suspect) pursuant to warrants once they recognized him as the vehicle’s occupant,” stated the IIO.
“When they observed the presence of a shotgun in the cab, that and (his) criminal history and background gave them cause for caution. Their plan to contain (the man), call him out and arrest him away from the shotgun was a reasonable one.”
The IIO stated proof of the fired shell within the chamber and the blown-out sunroof, in addition to accounts from officers, present that the weapon was seemingly fired moments earlier than police started capturing.
The IIO additionally stated whereas it discovered police had been lawful to make use of deadly drive on this case, he questioned whether or not one officer wanted to fireplace 26 to 29 photographs whereas one other fired off two photographs.
Ultimately, the IIO determined whereas the officer’s “actions may not have been perfect, they were not unreasonable and do not rise to the level of criminality. Any concerns about his performance and tactics will be left for consideration by the RCMP.”
The report will be accessed on the IIO’s web site.
Notably, an internet petition for the person garnered extra than 1,000 signatures.
