IIU hands shooting investigation to Alberta agency
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/01/2024 (604 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The province’s police oversight agency has transferred its investigation into the fatal shooting of a University of Manitoba student to an Alberta agency.
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba said its civilian director, Roxanne Gagné, recommended to the justice minister that the case be given to an out-of-province civilian oversight body to avoid the potential of any perceived conflict of interest.
“Early in the investigation, the IIU became aware that an officer involved in the shooting is a close relative of an employee of Manitoba Justice, the same department in which the IIU is located organizationally,” an IIU news release sent Wednesday states.
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Afolabi Stephen Opaso, a 19-year-old international student, died in hospital after being shot by police.
“Although there are no concerns over the professionalism and integrity of the work done by IIU investigators, considering the relationship of the persons involved, it was concluded that the appointment of an outside agency for this investigation is important to preserve the integrity of the investigative process.”
Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe authorized the transfer of the investigation, under section 20 of the Police Services Act, to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.
The shooting happened inside an apartment suite at 77 University Cres. shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 31.
Afolabi Stephen Opaso, a 19-year-old international student, died in hospital. Opaso’s parents, who live in Nigeria, have said he was experiencing a mental-health crisis.
Before Wednesday’s announcement, they implored the IIU to conduct a “thorough and transparent” investigation into the officers’ actions.
The Winnipeg Police Service has said officers responded to a 911 call about a possibly armed man acting erratically in a suite where he was with a 19-year-old woman and 21-year-old man.
Police are heard saying in an audio recording to “drop the knife” three times before three gunshots are heard.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca
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