The coroner’s office in Ontario has stated that an inquest will take place regarding the death of Justin Bourassa, a man from Sarnia who was shot by a London police officer back in October 2021.
This inquest will look into what happened leading up to Bourassa’s death, giving a jury the chance to suggest ways to prevent similar incidents in the future.
By law, inquests must be held under certain conditions, such as when someone dies as a result of police force.
This announcement comes more than four years after the 29-year-old Bourassa lost his life and over three years since the officer involved was cleared of any criminal actions by the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
Bourassa was approached by two officers from the London Police early on October 28, 2021, while he was walking near Richmond Street and Mill Street in downtown London.
The SIU reported that these officers were looking for suspects related to a break-in that had been reported nearby. According to them, Bourassa wasn’t part of that break-in but they didn’t know that until after everything happened.
Bourassa resisted arrest and reportedly began choking one officer who fell down with him before being shot, according to a SIU report from 2022 which found no criminal wrongdoing on behalf of the officer.
<p He later died at the hospital.
His passing shocked his community back home in Sarnia, where he was well-known among tennis enthusiasts and within francophone circles. He’s remembered for his passion for tennis and his strong ties to the community.
A non-profit fund named Love-All was created by his family in honor of him. It organizes an annual tennis tournament aimed at raising funds while paying tribute to Bourassa.
More information about the upcoming inquest is yet to be announced, including its date and venue.
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