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Nunavut police shooting of armed Inuk man ruled a homicide

GJOA HAVEN, NUNAVUT —
The sister of a Nunavut man shot by a Mountie says she’s relieved a jury in a coroner’s inquest has dominated his dying a murder.

Charles Qirngnirq, 21, was killed Dec. 19, 2016, after RCMP obtained experiences of a male with a rifle on the Gjoa Haven airport.

Talking after the jury learn its verdict Friday, Shantel Qirngnirq mentioned she feels stronger.

“I haven’t got that ache in my coronary heart anymore,” she informed The Canadian Press.

“He by no means needed to harm folks. He needed to guarantee that he noticed folks smiling or caring for one another or simply having enjoyable,” she mentioned by way of tears, hanging her head in her lap.

Eva Qirngnirq, Charles’ grandmother, mentioned she misses her grandson day by day.

“He was outgoing, he was at all times pleased … he did a lot for me.”

She mentioned 5 years was a very long time to attend for the inquest.

Attorneys for the Nunavut coroner’s workplace and Qirngnirq’s household had argued his dying was a murder, whereas the RCMP’s lawyer mentioned it was a suicide.

After deliberating for about 5 hours, the jury made 11 suggestions to stop related deaths, together with suicide prevention coaching for the RCMP and having multiple mental-health nurse in every Nunavut group.

The jury additionally beneficial the RCMP carry first help kits on service calls and the Nunavut authorities and Hamlet of Gjoa Haven create a gaggle for younger males locally.

Cpl. Ian Crowe testified through the inquest that Qirngnirq yelled out to himself that he needed to die earlier than he appeared to carry his rifle at Crowe and one other Mountie.

Ottawa police investigated the taking pictures and cleared Crowe, saying the officer’s use of drive was cheap.

Sheldon Toner, the coroner’s lawyer, had cautioned the jury that coroner’s inquests should have a presumption towards suicide.

The inquest heard that Qirngnirq went to the airport that morning as a result of he was upset his girlfriend and younger son had been attempting to fly out of the group.

The jury was additionally informed that Qirngnirq was at a better danger for suicide due to his age and background. However Toner mentioned there is no indication he needed to take his personal life.

“He is not a strolling stereotype. He is an individual,” Toner mentioned in closing arguments.

He additionally mentioned Crowe testified that he heard Qirngnirq make suicidal feedback whereas strolling with the rifle outdoors the airport that day, however Qirngnirq did not direct the feedback on the two officers.

Qirngnirq’s rifle was later discovered to be unloaded. He was carrying two bullets, however the inquest heard they might not have labored within the rifle.

“An inexpensive inference might be that he was simply raging on the world. He was upset, however that doesn’t imply he was suicidal,” Toner mentioned.

“He needed to reside.”

RCMP lawyer Magnolia Unka-Wool had argued that Qirngnirq deliberately disobeyed the officers, pointed his rifle at them and used them to finish his life.

“Charles, certainly, may see the police car within the flat snowy tundra,” Unka-Wool mentioned.

She mentioned his household had made earlier calls to the RCMP saying he had suicidal ideas. She informed the jury that he took his rifle to the airport that day with the intention of dying.

“He was leaving the officers with no selection however to shoot him,” she mentioned.

Nikolai Sittmann, the Qirngnirq household’s lawyer, mentioned the inquest did not hear any proof that Qirngnirq knew the officers had been truly there.

“That is about two law enforcement officials that noticed an upset younger man strolling with a rifle and felt so threatened that they shot him,” Sittmann mentioned.

The inquest heard that after the taking pictures, when the officers reached Qirngnirq, he requested, “Why you shoot?”

“That is the response of somebody who didn’t need to be shot,” Sittmann mentioned.

The RCMP mentioned Crowe is at the moment on administrative obligation. He was charged with assault earlier this yr after he responded to a name for service in Sanirajak, Nunavut, in August of 2020.

Crowe informed The Canadian Press he has no touch upon the assault allegation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 8, 2021.

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This story was produced with the monetary help of the Fb and Canadian Press Information Fellowship.

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