Residents protest, police watchdog investigates Salluit shooting death involving police
Few details released; gunshots appeared to have been fired during early morning incident Monday
Members of the Salluit community are protesting against the Nunavik Police Service after a police intervention where Joshua Papigatuk, right, is said to have died during an altercation with police officers in Salluit, and his twin brother Garnet Papigatuk, left, was medivaced due to severe injuries. (Photo courtesy of François Léger-Savard)
Quebec’s independent police watchdog is investigating a shooting death in Salluit Monday during an incident involving Nunavik police, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes said.
The incident, which left a second person injured, occurred early Monday morning, a Nunavik Police Service statement said.
By the afternoon, about 50 people had gathered outside the Salluit police office, some carrying homemade signs or calling out “justice for Joshua” or “justice for the twins” and passing drivers honked their horns in support.
Nunavik Police Service officers responded to a call for assistance at around 4 a.m. Monday, the police statement said.
At the scene, “an officer discharged his service weapon,” it said.
“Two individuals were wounded: one individual died from his injuries, the second individual received medical attention and was transported by medevac.”
The statement did not identify any of the people involved, their ages or genders.
A video circulated on Facebook purporting to show the Salluit incident had been viewed more than 200,000 times by early Monday evening.
It appears to show one person grappling with another, then recoiling after being shot. In the video, two apparent gunshots can be heard.
Another Facebook video appears to show one man pushing two police officers down stairs at the front of a house. A third officer at the bottom of the stairs appears to be brandishing a weapon.
Salluit community members protest in front of the police station Monday, some with signs saying “Justice for Joshua” or “Justice for the twins.” Quebec’s police watchdog is investigating Monday’s fatal confrontation between police and two residents. (Photo courtesy of Moses Tarkirk)
Moses Tarkirk, a Salluit resident, told Nunatsiaq News the two men who were involved were his childhood friends, twin brothers Joshua and Garnet Papigatuk.
“This news shocked me,” Tarkirk said in a phone interview in French.
“I have moments where I am trying to focus, but I have a lot of moments where I am crying. This is very difficult.”
He said Joshua Papigatuk died in the incident, and Garnet was medevaced to hospital with injuries.
“Everyone, including me, does not feel safe with these police officers,” he said.
Tarkirk said he really wants to know how a “normal intervention” involving police could lead to a person dying.
Jérémie Comtois, a communications officer for Quebec’s police watchdog, said five investigators have been assigned to look into the incident. A criminal investigation team from the Quebec provincial police is working in with the the investigations bureau.
According to a French news release issued later Monday, Quebec’s independent investigations bureau said its staff were sent “as soon as possible to carry out investigative steps, including the scene, meeting witnesses and the families involved.”
Comtois added: “The BEI asks anyone who witnessed this event to communicate with us via our website.”
The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes is called to investigate cases where a person other than a police officer suffers serious injury or dies as a result of firearm use by a police officer.
The intention is for its investigation to shed light officers’ actions taken during a police intervention.
Quebec provincial police declined comment for this story.
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