Charges will not be filed against an Edmundston police officer who fatally shot 26-year-old Chantel Moore during a wellness check last June.
A statement was issued on Monday by Public Prosecutions Services (PPS), Office of the Attorney General.
“The evidence presented to Public Prosecutions Services does not establish a reasonable prospect of conviction. Therefore, we will not proceed with criminal charges against the police officer,” said the statement.
PPS said the Crown finished a review of the report from the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes du Québec (BEI) of its investigation into the death of Moore, an Indigenous woman.
Evidence collected by the BEI included police vehicle in-camera videos, footage from security cameras from nearby local businesses, witness statements from civilians and Edmundston police officers, cellphone analysis, fingerprint analysis and ballistics reports.
“Following that review, it is the Crown’s opinion that in the early morning hours of June 4, the officer in question did believe, on reasonable grounds, that force or a threat of force was being used against him by Ms. Moore, that he shot at Ms. Moore for the purpose of defending or protecting himself and that his actions were reasonable under the circumstances,” said the statement.
“The action of the officer was in response to a potential lethal threat approaching him quickly, having no other escape option available on the third-floor balcony he was confined to, and following repeated orders that Ms. Moore drop the weapon she was holding.”
The statement went on to say that the officer was justified in “doing what is required or authorized to do and in using as much force as is necessary for that purpose.”
Inquest Ordered For December
An inquest into the death of Moore is scheduled to start on Dec. 6 in the Edmundston region.
Chief Coroner Jérôme Ouellette announced the inquest on Monday
The exact location and presiding coroner for the inquest will be announced later.
The presiding coroner and a jury will publicly hear evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding Moore’s death.
A jury can make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths in similar circumstances.
