The Ontario coroner’s office has ordered an inquest into the death of Justin Bourassa, a 29-year-old man from Sarnia, Ontario, who was shot and killed by a police officer in 2021. The investigation will look into the details of the incident to provide a public account of what happened and suggest ways to prevent similar deaths in the future.
Mr. Bourassa died on October 28, 2021, following an interaction with the London Police Service in an alleyway near Richmond Street. Officers were in the area at the time after receiving a report about a break-and-enter incident. Mr. Bourassa was a well-known tennis professional in his home community.
In 2022, the Special Investigations Unit finished a nine-month review of the case and cleared the officer involved of any criminal charges. The provincial agency found that the officer acted appropriately, and a separate internal review by the police service also concluded that the officers followed proper procedures.
The family of Mr. Bourassa has continued to contest these findings and filed a $3.9 million lawsuit against the police. They argue that the use of force was not justified and have pushed for more transparency regarding the night of the shooting.
The upcoming inquest is a standard process in Ontario when a person dies while in contact with the police. A jury will listen to the facts of the case and may create a list of recommendations to help improve safety and policing standards across the province.
