Coroners' inquest hears Indigenous man killed by RCMP in 2021 came at police with metal files

A B.C. coroners' inquest into the death of Julian Jones, a 28-year-old member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, heard testimony Wednesday from RCMP Cpl. Daniel Macintosh about the moments before Jones was fatally shot on Meares Island in February 2021.

Police were responding to a 911 call around 9 p.m. on February 27 from a woman who said she had been sexually assaulted. Macintosh and Const. David Robichaud arrived at a house in Opitsaht by boat. When they entered, they arrested Jones's brother. That is when Macintosh said he saw Jones emerge from another room holding what he believed to be foot-long knives clenched in his fists.

Macintosh told the jury Jones shouted "Don't hurt my brother, I'll kill you" and clashed the objects together, creating sparks. Macintosh drew his pistol and ordered Jones to drop what he thought were knives. The objects were later found to be long metal files used to sharpen tools. Jones did not comply. After Robichaud deployed a Taser, Jones went down but got back up. When Jones advanced again, Robichaud fired three shots. The inquest is being held in Port Alberni.

Macintosh said about five minutes elapsed from when they left their boat to when the shots were fired. He acknowledged the officers had received crisis intervention and de-escalation training focused on mental health and substance abuse issues. When asked if the officers could have done something differently—such as retreating with the arrested man to let the situation settle and wait for backup—Macintosh said he could not have left given Jones's violent state and the woman's safety remained at risk. Robichaud, who has since retired and no longer lives in B.C., chose not to testify; coroners can only compel testimony from people in the province.

As HighOnCity reported in August, the inquest heard that Robichaud would not appear to give evidence.