WATCH: Today, people gathered to remember Naverone Woods, and demand answers about his death. Jordan Armstrong reports.
Family members of Naverone Woods say he was visiting Metro Vancouver from Hazelton to be a pallbearer for his own uncle’s funeral when he was fatally shot by Transit Police officers last December.
READ MORE: Identity of man shot by Transit Police released by coroner
It was around 8 a.m. on December 28 when Woods entered All Day All Nite convenience store near Surrey Central SkyTrain station. The clerk told police a man came behind the counter demanding that he be given a knife. RCMP passed the call on to transit police nearby. Transit officers then heard reports of a man with a knife at the nearby Safeway.
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“When they entered the store they found there was a man in the store who was repeatedly stabbing himself with a knife,” said Transit Police spokesperson Anne Drennan. “They spoke to the man, engaged in a conversation, tried to get him to drop the knife…He didn’t pay any attention and instead advanced upon the officers. As a result, shots were fired.”
The Independent Investigations Office has interviewed more than two dozen witnesses, but have yet to rule whether the officers involved used excessive force.
Naverone’s sister Melanie is one of many awaiting their report.
“I think they were quick to act. If he was hurting himself like they said he was, it was a plea for help, not to be shot,” she said.
“It’s devastating, it’s heartbreaking.”
– With files from Jon Azpiri
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