Metepenagiag Chief Addresses Fatal RCMP Shooting

A New Brunswick First Nation chief is seeking answers after one of his community members was fatally shot by the RCMP.

Rodney Levi was shot and killed when police responded to a call at a home in Boom Road, near the Metepenagiag First Nation, on Friday evening.

Metepenagiag Chief Bill Ward addressed his community during a one-hour Facebook live video Saturday afternoon.

Ward said Levi had visited his home earlier in the day Friday, just hours before the shooting took place.

“He was in good spirits,” said Levi. “He was having a little bit of issues with some sleep and stuff. He had his demons but he was always very friendly, he never tried to harm anybody.”

Ward said Levi had been invited to a barbeque being put on by a local church minister when police were called. Levi would often go to the minister in search of wisdom, help and guidance, he said.

According to the chief, Levi had reportedly grabbed a knife and placed it in his sweater but did not threaten anyone.

In a statement, New Brunswick RCMP said they responded to a call of an “unwanted person” at a home around 7:40 p.m. Friday.

They said arriving officers were confronted by a man “armed with knives” who charged at them. Police said a stun gun was used several times unsuccessfully before an officer discharged a firearm.

The victim, who police have not publicly identified, was treated at the scene for a gunshot wound and taken to hospital, where he later died.

Ward said he was told Levi was shot by an officer who was relatively new to the community. He believes the shooting would not have happened had a more veteran officer been there.

“He wasn’t in the right state of mind at that point in time, but he wasn’t a violent person, so basically to me what it says is that if you’re mentally ill and you have a bad day, the cops can kill you for it,” said Ward.

Levi had recently sought a mental health assessment in hospital but was turned away, he said.

Ward, who had known Levi since the two were kids, said he was a polite person and a good friend.

“We all lived on the same road. He was a couple of years older than me, but he always talked to me. It’s hard seeing somebody you know your whole life just get taken,” he said.

Quebec’s police watchdog, the Bureau des enquetes independents (BEI), has been asked to investigate the circumstances surrounding Levi’s death.

The BEI said its report would be submitted to the coroner responsible for the investigation and the New Brunswick Public Prosecution Services, who will decide whether criminal charges will be laid against the officers involved.

The agency said it will be up to those authorities to decide whether the report would be made public.

The BEI did not give any indication of how long its investigation may take.