A detailed pal of a person who was fatally shot by Hamilton police over the weekend says he witnessed Erixon Kabera’s final moments in hospital, and is now becoming a member of requires an intensive investigation into his loss of life.
Andy Ganza stated he obtained a name from Kabera’s girlfriend, telling him she was on her method to Hamilton Common Hospital and that his pal was within the working room.
“I rushed my way down to the hospital … we went to the room, both of us, his girlfriend and myself, and they told us he was not going to make it,” he stated in an interview Thursday.
“I believe he was in his last moments, and then they came back 10 minutes later to tell us that he had passed.”
Kabera, 43, died within the early morning hours on Sunday, after police have been referred to as to a Hamilton condominium constructing late Saturday afternoon.
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Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating the circumstances of his loss of life, and has stated that Hamilton police have been responding to experiences of a person “acting in a threatening manner.”
The Particular Investigations Unit’s preliminary assertion stated there was an “exchange of gunfire” with police, however later issued an replace that stated it doesn’t seem the person had discharged a firearm earlier than he was shot.
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Kabera’s household – who’ve stated he had no historical past of any type of violence – decried what it referred to as “a reversal of crucial facts,” however the SIU stated the preliminary information launch was primarily based on info accessible on the time. The watchdog has additionally stated {that a} “replica firearm” was collected from the scene.
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Ganza stated the native Rwandan Canadian group and Kabera’s members of the family will demand solutions concerning the police taking pictures at a march and vigil being held at Hamilton Metropolis Corridor Thursday night.
“The statements about the events and/or the investigation have not been consistent and it’s been frustrating for us, for the family,” he stated. “We want the truth. We are demanding thorough investigation that is transparent.”
Ganza stated he has recognized Kabera for 10 years they usually grew to become shut over the past seven years, after his pal moved to Hamilton.
He stated Kabera began a household enterprise along with his uncle a 12 months and a half in the past, distributing produce, and he had labored as a public servant on the Canada Income Company.
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Ganza stated his pal’s loss of life has been extraordinarily troublesome, particularly for Kabera’s three youngsters, who vary in age between 10 and 17, and his 4 siblings.
Two of these siblings reside in Canada and have travelled to Hamilton from Regina and Gatineau, Que., Ganza stated.
“I had to announce to them over the phone while on their way that he has passed away,” he stated.
“It’s been very, very hard, extremely hard.”
Ganza stated he began a GoFundMe marketing campaign to lift cash to assist the household cowl the prices of the funeral and getting authorized illustration.
“The funeral service will be held on Saturday but he will not be buried here,” he stated. “The body will be flown back home (to Rwanda). That is what the family decided.”
Hamilton’s police Chief Frank Bergen has expressed condolences to Kabera’s household and acknowledged that “there are many unanswered questions.”
“I trust the SIU will work to address these in a full, timely, transparent manner,” Bergen stated in an announcement.
Kabera’s household has referred to as his loss of life “senseless” and demanded “transparency and accountability” from authorities.
“We want to know details of the altercation so that we can understand the truth of what happened in Erixon’s final moments,” they stated in an announcement earlier this week.
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