Jury to make recommendations in shooting death

A coroner’s jury examining the shooting death of Naytanie Atadjuat by an RCMP officer after a violent domestic altercation in Pond Inlet in September 2002 is to make recommendations for procedures in similar incidents in the future.

Atadjuat died of a blood loss from a single bullet wound to his shoulder.

The incident occurred after RCMP were called to a domestic disturbance involving Atadjuat and his spouse on the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2002. After slicing the woman’s neck, Atadjuat fled to a nearby home and threatened to hurt a child. He was hit when RCMP officers fired shots at him.

Atadjuat, who had a history of mental illness and solvent abuse, had been released from police custody earlier that day after being charged with mischief and public intoxication.

Following the shooting, the two officers, John Tagak and Bill Mooney, were assigned to desk duties in Iqaluit. They were cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal investigation.

The five-woman, one-man jury was expected to make recommendations this week.

Tim Neily, Nunavut’s chief coroner, said he would review the recommendations and add comments, which will be released to the public.