PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – The inquest into the police shooting of a man last summer in northern Saskatchewan has begun.
Ryan Natomagan-Nelson, who was 27, was shot by police at a housing complex on the east side of Prince Albert on July 9, 2013.
Skylar Torgunrud testified Monday he was on his porch having a smoke when he saw Natomagan-Nelson and a woman arguing a few houses away.
Torgunrud called police after the man violently tackled the woman as she tried to walk away.
He says two officers identified themselves outside the house, and then entered when no one answered.
Torgunrud heard shouting and heard someone yell, “put it down,” followed by two gunshots.
Torgunrud said he then saw the two officers come out of the home and call paramedics over. The paramedics went in with a stretcher and came out with a man on it.
Outside court, Natomagan-Nelson’s aunt, Shirley Nelson, said they are looking for closure through this inquest.
“We want to hear what the witnesses and the police have to say about what had occurred,” said Nelson. “For some of our family it’s closure and for some it’s where do we proceed from here?”
She added many family members are still trying to come to terms with Natomagan-Nelson’s death.
Coroner Brent Gough picked three aboriginal jurors and three non-aboriginal jurors after getting a request from Natomagan-Nelson’s family.
Gough said the inquest will hear from 13 witnesses.
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