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BC Coroners Service investigates Slocan shooting

Nelson Daily Staff
By Nelson Daily Staff
October 14th, 2014

In media release, the BC Coroners Service confirmed it’s running a parallel investigating into the death of Slocan resident Peter DeGroot, 45, following a police shooting in the Slocan area on Monday (October 13).

“DeGroot was shot following an encounter with two RCMP Emergency Response Team members which occurred about 1:45 p.m. on Oct. 13, at a remote cabin in the Slocan area,” said Barb McLintock, Coroner, Strategic Programs.

“He was deceased at the scene.”

“The RCMP had named DeGroot as the person for whom they were searching in the area since Oct. 9,” McLintock added.

“The BC Coroners Service investigates the circumstances of all sudden and unexpected deaths in the province to establish the facts for the public record, and to determine whether there are recommendations that may be made to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances. “

McLintock said this investigation will run parallel to that of the RCMP Independent Investigations Office but, while the IIO will be looking at potential crimes committed and whether charges are warranted, the Coroners Service will be conducting a fact-finding, as opposed to a fault-finding, investigation.

“We can look at what led up to it, whether mental health issues were involved, at the broader spectrum beyond just what went on in that cabin,” she explained.

“We’ll be trying to determine if there could there have been an opportunity for any prior intervention – not to say that there is, in this case. But this is the kind of thing we look at.”

She said she can’t begin to guess, at this juncture, how long the investigation will take, but said the results will definitely be made public.

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