Manitoba’s Chief Medical Examiner has called an inquest into the death of 23-year-old Benjiman Richard.
On the second of April 2019, Manitoba First Nations Police were called to a home on Long Plain First Nation, just west of Portage la Prairie for the report of a man discharging a firearm out of the residence he was in.
When officers arrived Richard shot at police and they returned fire. Richard was hit with several rounds during the gunfire exchange and pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy confirmed that Richard died from gunshot wounds.
Under the Fatality Inquiries Act, an inquest is mandated when a person dies as a result of force by a peace officer while they were acting in the course of their duties.
The inquest will review the circumstances of Richard’s death and determine if anything can be done differently to prevent similar deaths from occurring.
The location and date of the inquest will be determined by the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba.
© News4.ca 2020
