Fort St. John farmer shot dead by RCMP

By Salim Jiwa

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – A 41-year-old farmer has been shot dead by the RCMP.

Cops said they were involved in a four-day standoff with the farmer before he got into a confrontation with the heavily armed police tactical team known as the Emergency Response Team, ERT.

Police in B.C. have shot dead three people so far this month and a Vancouver Island motorist was critically injured after a bizarre police shooting which cops have yet to explain.

Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said the events that sparked the fatal police shooting began on Sept. 26.

“An incident occurred at a rural farm on Aitken Creek Road near the small community of Buick Creek which is north of Fort St. John,” he said.

“The incident involved a 41-year-old male resident of the farm who, during a domestic dispute, allegedly pursued a van containing his wife, his children and a friend, and using his own vehicle forced them to come to stop,” Moskaluk said.

“He then allegedly shot out the front tires of the van which continued to a nearby residence where his family and the friend sought safety inside the house,” said the cop.

“The male then allegedly shot out the rear tires of the now empty van and demanded that his wife and children return home with him,” Moskaluk added.

“When denied access to the home, the male left and returned to his property while still in possession of the firearm. At this point RCMP were called for assistance.

“All attempts to communicate with the male by Fort St. John RCMP members were met with refusal. The services of a translator were also extensively used to ensure the German-speaking male understood the communications efforts being made,” he explained.

“In addition, a family friend made regular contact with the male in an effort to persuade him to cooperate with police, but these attempts were also unsuccessful,” said the RCMP spokesman.

“On September 29th, a vehicle believed to be driven by the male attempted to leave the farm, but quickly retreated after the driver apparently spotted police,” he said.

“Due to the potential risk and volatility of the situation, a decision was made to call in the RCMP’s North District Emergency Response Team (ERT).

On September 30th the Emergency Response Team arrived and contained “the property. The male was spotted numerous times on the property in possession of a firearm. Contact with the male was attempted with the assistance of an interpreter but was met with negative results,” he said.

“At approximately 12:50 PM the male allegedly attempted to leave the property and had a confrontation with ERT members. Shots were fired by police striking the male,” he added. “Paramedics were brought in to the scene within approximately two minutes but despite their best efforts the male’s wounds were fatal.”

Police are witholding the name of the dead farmer and victim services are assisting his family.

On Sept. 26 Rodney Jackson of Hazelton was gunned down by the RCMP’s ERT squad. On Sept. 18, a motorist was shot by police during a traffic stop and was taken to hospital in critical condition.

On Sept. 18, Vancouver Police shot dead Eugene Anthony Knight, a city handyman apparently to  protect his wife from being murdered.

Related articles:

1. Fort St. John area farmer shot by cops had 11 kids
2. Nanaimo man shot dead by RCMP
3. RCMP had military-style plan to capture man but they ended up killing him
4. Pain and anguish over fatal RCMP shooting of Hazelton dad