Latest news with #IIU
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Alberta watchdog's ruling on Winnipeg police fatal shooting of Nigerian student expected in August
A decision over whether Winnipeg police officers were justified in the fatal 2023 shooting of a Nigerian international student is expected by the end of August, the out-of-province police watchdog tapped to conduct the investigation says. Afolabi Stephen Opaso, 19, was shot dead by officers responding to a well-being call at a Winnipeg apartment building on Dec. 31, 2023, the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) of Manitoba has said. The agency investigates all serious incidents involving police in Manitoba. Winnipeg police said the call involved a possibly armed man who was acting erratically. Opaso, a University of Manitoba student, was armed with two knives when officers shot him, then-police chief Danny Smyth told reporters a day after the shooting. In January 2024, the IIU tapped its Alberta-based counterpart to take over the investigation into Opaso's death to avoid any perceived conflict of interest, after it said a Manitoba Justice employee was found to be a "close relative" of a police officer involved in the shooting. Opaso's family has been vocal about their wait for answers over his death in the months since. Last December, the family released a statement expressing deep frustration as they continued to wait for the independent report into what led to Opaso's death. The family released another statement on Monday, urging the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) to release a formal written update on the status of its investigation within seven days. "This continued delay is unjustified and quite disturbing for us, and we genuinely wonder if our beloved brother will ever get justice," said the most recent statement, provided to CBC News by the Opaso family's lawyer, Jean-René Dominique Kwilu. A decision is expected by the end of August, a spokesperson for the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) told CBC News on Thursday. Kwilu says he didn't hear back from ASIRT after sending the family's most recent statement to the police watchdog. He said the watchdog's decision is "long overdue," as questions have swirled about alleged discrepancies between police's account of the shooting and Opaso's roommates, including whether Opaso was holding a weapon before his death. "We'll see what the investigation findings are, and then the family will know what their next steps are," Kwilu told CBC News on Thursday. He had not informed Opaso's family of the watchdog's update at that point. The family is considering whether to sue Winnipeg police over Opaso's death, Kwilu said. The family hopes the watchdog's final report will help them understand what information emergency dispatchers gave the officers who responded to the call, and how much time police had to talk to each other before providing their accounts of what happened, Kwilu said. The family also wants to know whether all the gunshots fired were necessary in the officers' response and whether there was a racial component to how the case was dealt with. Opaso's death disturbed Winnipeg's international student community, and it has broader implications for families with loved ones who struggle with mental health issues, he said. "Beyond just Afolabi, if there are some reforms that are needed, then those reforms must be tackled, especially in the areas of police and mental health, and how to respond to these calls," Kwilu said.
CBC
5 days ago
- CBC
Alberta watchdog's ruling on Winnipeg police fatal shooting of Nigerian student expected in August
A decision over whether Winnipeg police officers were justified in the fatal 2023 shooting of a Nigerian international student is expected by the end of August, the out-of-province police watchdog tapped to conduct the investigation says. Afolabi Stephen Opaso, 19, was shot dead by officers responding to a well-being call at a Winnipeg apartment building on Dec. 31, 2023, the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) of Manitoba has said. The agency investigates all serious incidents involving police in Manitoba. Winnipeg police said the call involved a possibly armed man who was acting erratically. Opaso, a University of Manitoba student, was armed with two knives when officers shot him, then-police chief Danny Smyth told reporters a day after the shooting. In January 2024, the IIU tapped its Alberta-based counterpart to take over the investigation into Opaso's death to avoid any perceived conflict of interest, after it said a Manitoba Justice employee was found to be a "close relative" of a police officer involved in the shooting. Opaso's family has been vocal about their wait for answers over his death in the months since. Last December, the family released a statement expressing deep frustration as they continued to wait for the independent report into what led to Opaso's death. The family released another statement on Monday, urging the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) to release a formal written update on the status of its investigation within seven days. "This continued delay is unjustified and quite disturbing for us, and we genuinely wonder if our beloved brother will ever get justice," said the most recent statement, provided to CBC News by the Opaso family's lawyer, Jean-René Dominique Kwilu. A decision is expected by the end of August, a spokesperson for the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) told CBC News on Thursday. Kwilu says he didn't hear back from ASIRT after sending the family's most recent statement to the police watchdog. He said the watchdog's decision is "long overdue," as questions have swirled about alleged discrepancies between police's account of the shooting and Opaso's roommates, including whether Opaso was holding a weapon before his death. "We'll see what the investigation findings are, and then the family will know what their next steps are," Kwilu told CBC News on Thursday. He had not informed Opaso's family of the watchdog's update at that point. The family is considering whether to sue Winnipeg police over Opaso's death, Kwilu said. The family hopes the watchdog's final report will help them understand what information emergency dispatchers gave the officers who responded to the call, and how much time police had to talk to each other before providing their accounts of what happened, Kwilu said. The family also wants to know whether all the gunshots fired were necessary in the officers' response and whether there was a racial component to how the case was dealt with. Opaso's death disturbed Winnipeg's international student community, and it has broader implications for families with loved ones who struggle with mental health issues, he said. "Beyond just Afolabi, if there are some reforms that are needed, then those reforms must be tackled, especially in the areas of police and mental health, and how to respond to these calls," Kwilu said.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- CTV News
Watchdog investigating after man is injured falling down stairs after being taken into custody by Winnipeg police
Manitoba's police watchdog is investigating after Winnipeg police say a man fell down the stairs after he was taken into custody. Everything unfolded just before 7:30 p.m. Thursday, when police were called to an apartment in the 200 block of Bertrand Street for reports of a man in his 60s armed with an 'edged weapon.' Police said the man was suicidal. 'Police arrived at the suite and began communicating with the man through the door and established that he was still armed, refusing to come out and was threatening to kill himself,' police said in a news release. The situation turned into an armed and barricaded incident, police said, and additional units were called in to help. After around two hours, the man came out and was taken into custody. However, police said as officers were walking the man down the stairs of the building, he was able to escape and fell down the stairs. 'He sustained a serious injury as a result of the fall and was transported to hospital by ambulance. His condition remains critical.' Police contacted the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) because of the nature of the man's injuries. The IIU said the man is receiving care at the Health Sciences Centre and is being treated for a 'possible traumatic brain injury.' The IIU has now taken over the investigation and said no other details will be shared at this time. Editor's note: The story previously said the man was arrested. It has since been changed to say taken into custody.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- CTV News
Watchdog investigating after man is injured falling down stairs following arrest by Winnipeg police
Manitoba's police watchdog is investigating after Winnipeg police say a man fell down the stairs after being arrested. Everything unfolded just before 7:30 p.m. Thursday, when police were called to an apartment in the 200 block of Bertrand Street for reports of a man in his 60s armed with an 'edged weapon.' Police said the man was suicidal. 'Police arrived at the suite and began communicating with the man through the door and established that he was still armed, refusing to come out and was threatening to kill himself,' police said in a news release. The situation turned into an armed and barricaded incident, police said, and additional units were called in to help. After around two hours, the man came out and was taken into custody. However, police said as officers were walking the man down the stairs of the building, he was able to escape and fell down the stairs. 'He sustained a serious injury as a result of the fall and was transported to hospital by ambulance. His condition remains critical.' Police contacted the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) because of the nature of the man's injuries. The IIU said the man is receiving care at the Health Sciences Centre and is being treated for a 'possible traumatic brain injury.' The IIU has now taken over the investigation and said no other details will be shared at this time.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- CTV News
Dog fatally shot by Manitoba officer; watchdog investigating
Manitoba's police watchdog is investigating after an officer fatally shot a dog on Swan Lake First Nation last month. According to the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU), the incident took place on the morning of June 11 when a Manitoba First Nations Police Service officer went to a home on Swan Lake First Nation to make an arrest. No arrest was made, but a dog bit the officer while he was on his way out. The officer returned to the home shortly after and shot the dog. The IIU was notified of this incident on Wednesday and has determined it's in the public interest to investigate. Witnesses or individuals with information or video footage are asked to call 1-844-667-6060. The investigation continues.
