By Ashley Legassic

Final steps of Kamloops officer-involved shooting investigation could take months

Dec 13, 2018 | 12:57 PM

KAMLOOPS — An investigation into a Kamloops officer-involved shooting, which is led by BC’s police watchdog, still has some key steps left before it can be wrapped up.

Chief Civilian Director for the Independent Investigations Office of BC, Ron MacDonald, says members have done the bulk of the investigation, but it could still be months before it concludes.

The shooting occurred on Rose Hill Road in Kamloops Sept. 14. Officers had responded to a report of a suspicious and possibly impaired man. Police attended the location and there was a reported exchange of gunfire, ultimately leading to the death of the man.

“We’re at that stage, as is so common in these matters, where we’re awaiting certain forensic testing and expert reports that flow from that,” MacDonald says. “It’s very difficult for me to give even a ballpark figure on that because, unfortunately, we do have to wait for third-party reports that we don’t have direct control over the timing.” 

“Once we have all of the information we need and assuming that that doesn’t lead us down any other roads, we will reach conclusions in as timely a manner as possible. But it will likely be some months yet.”

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MacDonald says the IIO has done as much background research as it can regarding what occurred before and during the incident, but because the investigation is ongoing details won’t be released yet.

“It is understandable that people… will want to know as soon as possible what happened, by the same token however I’m sure they are also wanting to make sure that we are as thorough as possible and that we’ve looked at all angles and are certain of our outcome once we reach it, and that’s what does take some time.”