Crime Aug 27, 2020 – 4:29 pm EDT

Deceased Nunavut man had attacked police with a knife: RCMP

Distraught Kinngait man had fought with father, dragged woman by the hair

The Kinngait man who was shot and killed by an RCMP officer this past Feb. 26 had backed the officer into a corner and was threatening him with a knife, the Nunavut RCMP said today. (File photo)

By Jim Bell

Attachie Ashoona, the Kinngait man who was shot and killed by an RCMP officer this past Feb. 26, had backed the officer into a corner and was threatening him with a knife, the Nunavut RCMP said in a news release issued today.

After Ashoona’s death, members of the Ottawa Police Service flew into Kinngait to investigate the incident.

On Aug. 24, the OPS reported they found no evidence to justify laying a criminal charge against the RCMP officer who shot Ashoona and that the officer did not use excessive force.

But the OPS provided no details explaining what happened, provoking questions about a lack of police transparency.

Today, the Nunavut RCMP provided those details, saying Ashoona was killed after the police had responded to two calls reporting a violent domestic disturbance at a Kinngait residence.

“It was reported a male was seen dragging a female by her hair as she was screaming for help. A short time later, a second call was received advising police the male, later identified as Attachie Ashoona, was now inside a residence fighting with his father,” the RCMP news release said.

Once inside the home, they found Ashoona with a knife raised above his shoulder, saying he was “going to kill them and to shoot him,” the police said.

Both police officers drew their service pistols and ordered Ashoona to stop and drop the knife.

One officer was able to get out of the residence safely, but, while moving forward, Ashoona backed the second officer into a corner, making stabbing motions.

When Ashoona was about three feet away, the officer hit him with two shots fired from their pistol, the police said in the release.

The man was pronounced dead by medical staff who arrived soon after.

“This was a difficult situation for the Ashoona family, the police officers involved and Mr. Ashoona who lost his life. Our thoughts are with the community of Kinngait and all affected by this event,” said Chief Superintendent Amanda Jones, the commanding officer of the RCMP’s V division in Nunavut, in the release.