BCCLA Calls for Public Scrutiny as Inquest Examines Circumstances Surrounding 2022 RCMP Wellness Check
A coroner’s inquest into the death of Haida Elder Jimmie Johannesson will begin on July 27 in Burnaby, marking a significant legal proceeding that will examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting during a wellness check in Surrey in 2022.
The hearings, scheduled to run from July 27 through August 5 at Burnaby Coroners’ Court, will focus on establishing the facts surrounding Johannesson’s death rather than determining legal fault. The proceedings are expected to consider evidence related to the RCMP response, while a jury may issue non-binding recommendations intended to help prevent similar deaths in the future.
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA), which has supported Johannesson’s family since the incident, confirmed that Policy Staff Counsel Latoya Farrell will be available to speak with media following each hearing day and after the conclusion of the inquest on behalf of Johannesson’s sister, Haida Elder Ruby Marks.
A livestream of the proceedings will be available through the BC Coroners’ Service website during each hearing day.
Fact-Finding Process to Review Police Response
According to the BC Coroners’ Service, a coroner’s inquest is a fact-finding legal process designed to determine the circumstances of a death. While it does not assign civil or criminal liability, juries are empowered to make recommendations that may improve public safety or influence future policy.
The inquest is expected to revisit the events of April 8, 2022, when Surrey RCMP officers responded to a report involving Johannesson, who was reportedly threatening to harm himself.
Fatal Wellness Check Under Review
According to background information released ahead of the hearings, several Surrey RCMP officers arrived at Johannesson’s residence at approximately 10:00 a.m. to conduct a wellness check. Officers, accompanied by a civilian, entered the home and gathered near the front entrance while Johannesson was located in a room down the hallway.
Following a brief interaction, Johannesson reportedly ran toward the officers while holding a knife, prompting officers and the civilian to retreat from the residence. During the encounter, an RCMP officer fired five shots, fatally injuring the 61-year-old Haida Elder.
The incident was subsequently investigated by the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO), the civilian agency responsible for examining cases involving death or serious harm connected to police actions or inactions.
Previous Investigation Found No Criminal Grounds
The IIO released its final report on Aug. 1, 2024, concluding there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence during the incident.
However, the investigative body also acknowledged broader considerations related to police interactions inside private residences.
The report stated that it was important for police to recognize that Johannesson was in his own home, describing it as a place associated with both physical and psychological security. The IIO further acknowledged that “challenging a person in their home has the potential to increase the stress of the situation,” and recommended that “all police agencies should develop training to ensure, as much as possible in the circumstances of each case, that any approach to an [affected person] in their home takes this factor into account.”
BCCLA Continues to Advocate for Policing Reform
Ahead of the inquest, the BCCLA reiterated concerns about how police respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
The organization said Indigenous people continue to experience disproportionately high levels of police interaction and remain overrepresented in police use-of-force statistics. It also argued that officers responding to mental health emergencies are frequently placed in situations for which they are not adequately equipped, increasing the risk of deadly outcomes.
In 2022, the BCCLA joined a coalition of advocates alongside Ruby Marks in calling on the governments of British Columbia and Canada to establish dedicated mental health emergency response teams staffed by trained mental health professionals operating independently of police services.
The organization said it hopes the inquest will help answer outstanding questions surrounding Johannesson’s death and provide an opportunity for the jury to recommend changes aimed at improving responses to future mental health emergencies.
While acknowledging the IIO’s conclusion that there were no reasonable grounds to believe an officer committed an offence, the BCCLA maintains that the RCMP response to the wellness check may still constitute a breach of RCMP policy or professional misconduct. The association also expressed hope that recommendations emerging from the inquest will reinforce its long-standing calls for broader policing reforms related to mental health crisis response.
The hearings will take place daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Burnaby Coroners’ Court in Metrotower II, with media availability scheduled after each hearing day.