'Instead of getting help, he got three bullets': Family of man killed in Repentigny demand answers
The family of 37-year-old Jean-René “Junior” Olivier is demanding answers after he was shot and killed by Repentigny police officers on Sunday.
Family members believe the officers’ conduct was motivated by anti-Black racism.
Marie-Mireille Bence, Olivier’s mother, call to police that morning after she says he appeared to be in a state of psychosis while holding a knife.
She says Oliver told her he was seeing people around him that wanted to harm him.
Bence’s brother reportedly asked him to put the knife down, but he refused. She says she had no choice but to call the police.
“I called for help and then found my son on the ground,” said Bence Monday. “I find this absurd. There were other ways to do this, other means of disarming him, but they didn’t do that.”
Marie-Mireille Bence, mother of Jean-Rene Jr. Olivier, who was shot dead by police, holds a picture of her son in front of the family home in Repentigny, Que. on Monday, August 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Marie-Mireille Bence, mother of Jean-Rene Jr. Olivier, who was shot dead by police, holds a picture of her son in front of the family home in Repentigny, Que. on Monday, Aug\. 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
According to a report from Quebec's police watchdog (BEI), a 911 call was placed at 7:33 a.m. Sunday about "a confused and disoriented individual armed with a knife."
When paramedics and officers from Repentigny police arrived at the scene, they located Olivier, who was outside with another individual.
"The police tried to write the man a ticket, but he fled on foot," the BEI notes. "The subject allegedly had a knife in his possession and was threatening the officers."
The BEI states the officers tried "in vain" to reason with the man, even using pepper spray "without success."
"The police officers fired several shots at the man and hit him fatally," the report concludes.
Following the incident, the BEI was called to investigate "whether this information is accurate."
Dolmine Laguerre, a cousin of Jean-Rene Jr. Olivier, shows a knife similar to the one that was holding the victim before being shot dead by a police officer during a news conference in Repentigny, Que. on Monday, August 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Dolmine Laguerre, a cousin of Jean-Rene Jr. Olivier, shows a knife similar to the one that was holding the victim before being shot dead by a police officer during a news conference in Repentigny, Que. on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
“Instead of getting help, he got three bullets,” said Olivier’s cousin, Domine Lageurre. “Black people don’t have justice nowadays.”
Bence says she needs answers from the police chief and the mayor to "tell us what happened."
“As a mother, I don’t feel my kids are safe. Our kids are not safe, her kids are not safe, look at these young men here, are they safe?” she argued, referencing family and community members.
A STRING OF COMPLAINTS
The incident comes after a string of racial profiling complaints against Repentigny police.
In July, the Quebec Human Rights Commission ruled that the City of Repentigny and two local police officers should pay $38,000 in damages to former resident Leslie Blot for racial profiling.
In 2017, Blot was arrested in front of his house during a party. At the time, he claimed two police officers pulled up and questioned him because he was sitting in the passenger seat of his friend's car blowing up an inflatable children's toy.
The officers insist they questioned him because the car was not from Repentigny. It was registered in Laval, 30 minutes away.
Blot was arrested, handcuffed and given four tickets totalling over $700. One of the police officers erased Blot's recording of the intervention.
It was the fourth time the commission ruled against the city for racial profiling in a year.
“We still have about a dozen other complaints before the Human Rights Commission and we think those will complaints will be upheld,” said Fo Niemi, executive director at the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR). “[Olivier's] family has not received any call from the police chief of the mayor, [not even] a word of condolence or a word of regret.”
The BEI is asking any potential witnesses of the incident involving Olivier to contact them via their website.
-- with files from CTV News's Daniel J. Rowe.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Most of the city is evacuating': Gridlock on Alberta highway after evacuation order in Fort McMurray
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Sask. police seize 1.5M pieces of evidence, lay 60 more charges in child exploitation case
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
'Inappropriate' behaviour shuts down Dublin to New York City portal
Less than a week after two public sculptures featuring a livestream between Dublin, Ireland, and New York City debuted, 'inappropriate behaviour' in real-time interactions between people in the two cities has prompted a temporary shutdown.
Oilers starting Calvin Pickard in goal for Game 4 vs. Canucks
The Edmonton Oilers will start Calvin Pickard in net Tuesday for Game 4 of their playoff series with the Vancouver Canucks.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker rails against Pride month, working women in commencement speech
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month, working women, President Biden's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend.
King Charles III unveils his first official portrait since his coronation
King Charles III has unveiled the first portrait of the monarch completed since he assumed the throne, a vivid image that depicts him in the bright red uniform of the Welsh Guards against a background of similar hues.
Full List Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Alberta announces the 4 health agencies that will replace AHS later this year
The province has released more information on its plan to break up Alberta Health Services and replace it with four sector-based health agencies.
Biden administration moving ahead on US$1 billion arms package for Israel, AP sources say
The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it is sending a new package of more than US$1 billion in arms and ammunition to Israel, two congressional aides said Tuesday.