Coroner’s inquest begins into RCMP shooting death of man in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut – APTN News

Oct 04, 2021

A coroner’s inquest into the death of a 21-year-old man begins today in a remote hamlet in Nunavut, five years after he was shot and killed by RCMP.

Charles Qirngnirq was shot in December 2016 by an officer in Gjoa Haven, a community of about 1,400 people in western Nunavut.

RCMP said at the time they had received reports of a suicidal man with a rifle near the community’s airport.

A release said two officers tried to de-escalate the situation and asked Qirngnirq to put his weapon down, but he did not comply.

The inquest is to start with jury selection and is expected to run until Friday.

The jury is to determine the cause and circumstances of the death and make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

Read More: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/coroners-inquest-begins-into-rcmp-shooting-death-of-man-in-gjoa-haven-nunavut/