British Columbia’s police oversight body has revealed a detailed report explaining the clearance of two RCMP officers involved in the shooting of a Tla-o-qui-aht woman near Ucluelet in May 2021. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) had initially announced the decision in February 2023 but waited until the conclusion of related court proceedings to release the public report.
The IIO is tasked with investigating incidents where police actions lead to death or serious harm. Following the shooting incident, Indigenous leaders in 2021 demanded an inquiry into the RCMP officers’ conduct, which occurred after the death of another Tla-o-qui-aht man shot by RCMP officers on Vancouver Island in February 2021.
The CBC News has contacted the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council for their comments on the matter.
According to the IIO report, on May 8, 2021, two unidentified Mounties responded to 911 calls reporting a disturbance at a man’s residence on First Nations land, known for frequent violent incidents. The woman involved was under a police release condition prohibiting her presence in that community.
Upon arrival, the officers encountered resistance from the man, leading to his arrest for obstruction. They then proceeded to confront the woman inside the home, who was found obstructing a bathroom door while holding a black imitation handgun. Despite commands to drop the weapon, the woman fled to the living room, still holding it.
The officers discharged their firearms, with the report indicating that the woman was injured but not specifying which officer’s shots caused the harm. The woman, who admitted to being intoxicated at the time, mentioned her limited recollection of the events.
The investigation revealed a BB gun replica near the woman, matching her DNA profile. Chief Civilian Director Jessica Berglund of the IIO stated that the officers acted lawfully in response to the 911 call, justifying their use of lethal force given the perceived threat posed by the woman’s actions.
Berglund emphasized that the officers’ decision to draw their pistols was reasonable, considering the circumstances, and concluded that no offense was committed by the officers during the incident.
