Inquest set for Haida Elder who died in Surrey RCMP-involved incident

Inquest set for Haida Elder who died in Surrey RCMP-involved incident

Published 2:00 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2026

A coroner’s inquest into the April 2022 death of a Haida Elder “following events involving the Surrey RCMP detachment” is set to get underway Monday (July 27) in Burnaby.

According to a B.C. government news release, Jimmie Johannesson’s death was reported to the BC Coroners’ Service on April 8, 2022. Under the Coroners Act, inquests are mandatory for any deaths that occur while a person was detained by or in the custody of a peace officer.

The news release does not share details of what transpired on the date in question, however, according to information posted to the BC Civil Liberties Association website (bccla.org) on the five-month anniversary of Johannesson’s death, Surrey RCMP officers and members of the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team surrounded the 61-year-old’s home – reportedly on 108 Avenue near 132A Street – after he called police around 10 a.m. out of concern that he was a danger to himself.

“The RCMP’s lack of training around mental health, de-escalation and safe disarming techniques then saw them opening fire in his home where he was shot in the arm, leg, and twice in the heart,” it continues.

“What began as a desperate cry for help ended in a senseless tragedy at the hands of the state when Jimmie was pronounced dead at the hospital.”

A report by the Independent Investigations Office regarding an incident in Surrey that does not identify Johannesson as the deceased but matches the date and time of the incident described on the BCCLA site, found one officer’s use of lethal force justified “in the circumstances,” and that the approach taken by police “cannot be said… was unreasonable.”

“Simply put, there was no time for (the officer) to react in any other manner without risking being hurt or killed,” the report states.

The BCCLA site notes five policing changes that Johannesson’s sister Ruby Marks called for in the months following her brother’s death, including the elimination of police officer involvement in wellness checks, and the appointment of an Indigenous Civilian Monitor (or board of monitors) “to oversee each investigation where an Indigenous person is identified as a victim or affected party in an incident of death, serious harm, or reportable injury.”

Inquests are non-fault-finding public inquiries, aiming to: determine the facts related to a death; make recommendations, where appropriate, to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances; and ensure public confidence that the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual will not be overlooked, concealed or ignored.

Coroner Kirsten Everett and a jury will hear from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding Johannesson’s death. The jury cannot make any finding of legal responsibility or express any conclusion of law.

The inquest is to get underway at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Burnaby Coroners’ Court, in Metrotown.

For those who cannot attend in person but wish to view the proceedings, the livestream will be available on the Coroners Service’s website (www2.gov.bc.ca) every hearing day, starting on July 27.