Julian Jones inquest hears conflicting accounts of fatal 2021 RCMP shooting in Opitsaht
The brother of the 28-year-old Indigenous man killed by RCMP testified Jones was not aggressive and held no weapons—contradicting the officer's account of the Feb. 27, 2021 encounter.
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A B.C. coroner's inquest into the 2021 shooting death of Julian Jones, a 28-year-old member of the Tla-o-quiaht First Nation, heard conflicting accounts Friday of how the fatal encounter unfolded in the tiny community of Opitsaht on Meares Island.
John Lucas Jr., Jones's brother, testified that Jones was not aggressive and held no weapons when RCMP officers arrived at a house on Feb. 27, 2021, responding to a 911 call about a sexual assault and unlawful confinement. His account contradicted an RCMP officer's earlier testimony that Jones had brandished what the officer believed to be knives, threatened to kill both officers, and advanced on them.
Lucas said he and Jones had been drinking and using cannabis but denied the two had sexually assaulted or touched the woman in the house. He said she wanted to leave and they wanted her to go.
On the shooting itself, Lucas testified that five shots were fired at his brother—not three as the RCMP officer stated—and that a Taser was used after Jones was shot, not before. He also said police did not identify themselves at the door, contrary to the officer's testimony.
A forensic pathologist for the B.C. Coroners Service testified that Jones had two gunshot paths causing major damage to his lungs and heart. Those wounds would have resulted in nearly instantaneous death. Blood samples showed a moderate level of alcohol and THC in Jones's system.
A probation officer told the jury that Jones had profound cognitive deficits, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and a very low IQ of 50, which made it difficult to discern whether he understood directions he was given. The RCMP officer testified that long metal files—the type used to sharpen tools—were later found at the scene after Jones clashed them together, creating sparks in the room.
The inquest continues next week and is designed to determine facts and make recommendations to prevent future deaths under similar circumstances, not to assign fault.
What did the Independent Investigations Office of B.C.'s full investigation report conclude about the officers' use of force?
What recommendations will the coroner's jury issue once the inquest concludes next week?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When did the fatal RCMP shooting of Julian Jones occur?
Julian Jones was shot by RCMP officers on February 27, 2021, in Opitsaht on Meares Island, B.C.
What was Julian Jones's age and Indigenous background?
Julian Jones was 28 years old and a member of the Tla-o-quiaht First Nation.
How many gunshot wounds did the forensic pathologist say Jones sustained?
A forensic pathologist testified that Julian Jones had two gunshot paths that caused major damage to his lungs and heart, resulting in nearly instantaneous death.
What cognitive conditions did a probation officer say Julian Jones had?
A probation officer told the jury that Julian Jones had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, profound cognitive deficits, and a very low IQ of 50.
