PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – The family of a Saskatchewan man shot by police during a domestic dispute call had little to say at the conclusion of an inquest into his death.
The six-person jury in the inquest concluded that Ryan Natomagan-Nelson, who was 26, died on July 9, 2013 at 10:51 p.m. in Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.
Officers were called to a home in Prince Albert when witnesses saw Natomagan punch his girlfriend.
The officers testified Natomagan-Nelson lunged at them with a knife, and that’s when they shot him.
The jury did not give any recommendations to prevent similar deaths.
Natomagan-Nelson’s aunt Shirley Nelson read a short statement to the media on behalf of the family on Friday.
“We are sorry that things came out the way it happened. Shots were fired, a person died, we cannot bring anyone back from the dead so we have to do our best to move on,” she said.
Mitchell Holash, lawyer for the Prince Albert Police Service, offered condolences to Natomagan’s family.
“In this case, clearly the jury had determined it was a justified use of force in the circumstances, justified but very, very unfortunate.”
The jury deemed Natomagan’s death a homicide, and presiding coroner Brent Gough explained homicide does not imply guilt in an inquest.
Comments