WARNING: This story contains graphic details. Reader discretion is advised.
Pierre Coriolan’s family is asking for answers after the 58-year-old was shot and killed by police in the hallway of his apartment building last summer.
“We cannot believe that police officers treat people this way,” a note from Joanne Coriolan, read by Haitian activist Maguy Métellus, states.
WATCH: Family suing Montreal police over deadly encounter. WARNING: Images may be disturbing to some viewers.
At a press conference Wednesday, Coriolan’s family said they hope to see a change between how police interact with people who are vulnerable.
READ MORE: Black man claims ‘racial profiling’ after getting pulled over multiple times by Montreal police
“We are not naive. We know it is not the first time, and unfortunately it will not be the last time, such an event happens,” Joanne Coriolan writes.
“We must stop killing people.”
Coriolan’s family is suing the City of Montreal for $164,000.
READ MORE: Kirkland resident to file complaint against Montreal police; claims racial profiling
“Police used abusive and excessive force towards a vulnerable man. They did not give Mr. Coriolan a chance,” court documents state.
Quebec’s Independent Investigations Bureau (BEI) was called to look into the incident, after it was discovered that Coriolan was hit by several projectiles.
“There were three strikes against Pierre Coriolan,” explained Will Prosper, activist and former police officer.
“The first was that he was a black man. … The other thing he was poor. … And the third strike is he had mental health issues.”
As a minute-by-minute recount of the incident was read out, members of Coriolan’s family had to leave the room.
READ MORE: Toronto man launches human rights complaint against police
“He was a proud man who faced his demons with his head held high,” Joanne Coriolan writes.
“This is how I decided to remember Pierre.”
Violent struggle
A four-minute long cellphone video taken by a neighbour shows multiple officers struggling with Coriolan in the hallway.
Police had been called to the apartment building at 950 Robillard Ave., in Montreal’s east end, on June 27, 2017.
The building is reserved for people who are at a high risk of homelessness.
Coriolan, who has lived there since 2008 but was being evicted, was apparently acting destructively, yelling and breaking things.
WATCH BELOW: A letter from Joanne Coriolan, niece of Pierre Coriolan, who was killed during an interaction with Montreal police, pleads for police to stop “treating people this way.” The letter is read by Haitian activist Maguy Métellus.
According to court documents, he had been suffering from psychological and psychiatric problems since September 2016.
READ MORE: Toronto police officer pleads not guilty in 2013 fatal shooting of Sammy Yatim
In the video, the sound of shots and a taser can be heard as officers yell for the man to get on the ground.
Coriolan, initially yelling “I can’t,” eventually tumbles to his knees.
“One more shot,” a police officer can be heard saying, before two more shots are heard; it is not clear if these are plastic bullets or live rounds.
Coriolan falls and the officers say “let’s go, let’s go” as they try to apprehend him.
READ MORE: Shocking video in alleged police brutality case shows violent arrest of California woman
One of the officers starts hitting him with a baton and Coriolan can be heard crying out.
“He’s hurt, he’s on the floor,” an officer says into his walkie-talkie as his colleague tosses aside something Coriolan had in his hands.
“He’s not breathing,” one of the officers is heard saying.
Talking among themselves, one officer says, “You have blood on your face.”
READ MORE: Montreal storefronts, police cruiser damaged at police brutality march
The response: “I didn’t have a choice.” It is not clear what he is specifically referring to.
During the interaction, police used a taser gun, plastic bullets, a telescopic baton and their guns.
The video ends with a female officer calling out, “Stay in your homes,” and the person filming obliges.
READ MORE: Fatal police shootings spark protests, riots in Montreal North
Urgences-Santé was called around 7:30 p.m.
The 58-year-old was taken to hospital in cardiac arrest, where he was pronounced dead.
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
Follow @rachel_lau