Julian Jones inquest to begin in Port Alberni

A coroner’s inquest into the 2021 death of Julian Jones, an Indigenous man shot by Tofino RCMP officers, is scheduled to begin on August 18 at the Port Alberni Law Courts.

The incident occurred on February 27, 2021, in the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation village of Opitsaht on Meares Island. Officers responded to a 911 call regarding a sexual assault. During the encounter, Jones became agitated while holding two metal files that officers initially mistook for knives. After an officer deployed a Taser, a second officer fired three shots, striking Jones twice.

A previous investigation by the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. concluded that the officers reasonably believed they were at risk of grievous bodily harm and recommended no charges. The upcoming inquest is a non-fault-finding public inquiry intended to determine the facts of the death and make recommendations to prevent similar occurrences. A jury will hear evidence under oath, though they are prohibited from making findings of legal responsibility.