Watch: Montreal man shot and killed by police
MONTREAL – The Quebec coroner’s office has ordered a public inquiry into the police shooting death of 41-year-old Alain Magloire.
The Chief Coroner, Denis Marsolais, said Friday that the public inquiry would be overseen by coroner Catherine Rudel-Tessier.
“To date, the facts seem to indicate that Mr. Magloire died during an emergency intervention and he seemed to suffer from mental health issues,” the coroner’s office said in a statement.
“Given that there have been several emergency interventions in public spaces involving people with mental health problems that have resulted in deaths in recent years, it seems to be an appropriate time to conduct a public inquiry.”
Public Security Minister Stéphane Bergeron was in Papineauville Friday when the announcement was made. He told reporters that he hopes “the inquest will shed more light on the causes and circumstances surrounding the shooting.” But Bergeron added he would not comment further because there is an ongoing police investigation into Magloire’s death.
READ MORE: Shooting victim Alain Magloire described as a caring person
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A father of two children, Magloire had a degree in molecular biology from UQAM and was described by his family as a charismatic, well-educated and caring person.
He was shot by police during a confrontation near the bus station in downtown Montreal on February 3.
A witness told Global News that the man was walking with the hammer in hand as police approached him.
READ MORE: Man armed with hammer dies after being shot by Montreal police
Rachel Lavallee-Ansay said he seemed about to hit an officer, who was still lying on the ground, when she heard four shots being fired, and the man collapsed.
Magloire apparently had been very agitated and according to another witness, had been breaking windows of a hotel on Berri Street prior to the incident.
The investigation into the shooting was transferred to the Quebec provincial police.
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