It took less than five minutes between two RCMP officers arriving in the remote island First Nations community of Opitsaht and when the shots that killed a Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation man were fired, according to one of the officers.
Cpl. Daniel Macintosh, testifying on Wednesday at a coroner's inquest into the death of Julian Jones, said officers were called to the island around 9 p.m. PT on Feb. 27, 2021, to investigate reports of a woman being assaulted and confined in a home.
His account is the first telling the seven-person inquest jury heard of Jones's final moments.
This coroner's inquest is examining the facts and circumstances around Jones's death, and the jury will create non-binding recommendations to prevent similar deaths. It is not tasked with finding blame or criminality.
Const. David Robichaud, who fired multiple shots that fatally wounded Jones, received a summons to testify but is not expected to appear.
Inquest counsel Rolf Warburton said, following the summons, Robichaud retired from the RCMP and moved out of the province. People outside of B.C. are not legally required to testify, and the former officer declined to participate.
The Independent Investigations Office did not recommend charges against the officers following an investigation.
'Things could have gone way differently': Coroner's inquest into RCMP shooting hears testimony from witness
Jones, previously convicted of numerous offences including assaulting a Tofino RCMP officer, was prohibited from contacting several RCMP officers including Robichaud, according to his Jones's parole officer David Paruk.
The events at the Opitsaht residence happened in under a minute, Macintosh said. The home was dark when they knocked.
From inside, he heard a woman yell for help, men's voices and heavy furniture being moved.
When the door opened, Robichaud arrested John Lucas Jr., Jones's brother.
As he was handcuffed, Lucas exclaimed in pain over his wrist — which Macintosh said prompted Jones to emerge and tell the officers not to hurt his brother, and threaten to kill them.
With a flashlight, Macintosh said he could see Jones hit two metal objects the shape of paint sticks together in his hands, sending sparks.
Macintosh said he had a brief verbal exchange with Jones — telling him to drop what the officer believed to be knives — but Jones began to approach the officers.
