Following the conclusion of an investigation by Quebec’s police watchdog (BEI), the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) announced at the end of last month that no charges would be filed against two Sûreté du Québec (SQ) officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man in Clarendon on June 5, 2023.
According to a press release issued by the DPCP, the incident began at 10:57 a.m. when a woman called 9-1-1, reporting that a man on her property had become violent toward her and her partner.
SQ officers arrived at the scene at 11:17 a.m. and learned that the man, who according to the couple, had no weapon in his possession, was inside a shed in the backyard.
According to the DPCP report, the officers, accompanied by the couple, approached the shed. One officer identified himself and asked the man to come out to talk. When one officer was about four meters from the shed the man opened the door and pointed a long gun directly at them.
The report says that one of the officers fired several shots at the man who fell backward into the shed, with the door closing behind him. The officers quickly retreated and instructed the couple to return to their home.
By 11:43 a.m., additional police units, including a tactical team, were on the scene. The officers attempted to communicate with the man but received no response.
A drone was deployed to the shed, where the man was found lying on the floor, having been struck by gunfire. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The DPCP reviewed the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes’ (BEI) investigation and determined that the officers’ actions were justified under sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Criminal Code.
These sections permit the use of necessary force, including lethal force, when officers believe there is a reasonable threat of death or serious harm to themselves or others.
The press release explained that given the man’s aggressive behavior, proximity, and possession of a firearm, the DPCP concluded that the officers had acted lawfully.
