Montreal’s Chinese community want hearing in police shooting

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The family and friends of Ronnie Kay, the 38-year-old man who was shot dead by Montreal police officers outside his apartment on Nan’s Island on Sept. 17, held a rally and march in Montreal’s Chinatown on Sunday, the coroner’s office said. requested an inquest. to situations surrounding death.

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Deborah Kay, Kay’s older sister, tearfully told a crowd of about 150 people in Sun Yat-sen Square how difficult the past two months had been for her family. Unable to properly mourn the death of his brother, he received few answers as to what happened or why.

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Kay described her last phone conversation with her brother. In it, his ex-girlfriend told her that he stopped by his condo without her notice to pick up her belongings. An argument ensued and the police were called. Kay, who had a “traumatizing” experience with police a decade ago, said he was terrified of his sister.

“He said he was shaking. He was really afraid of the police. “Don’t worry. I’m leaving now.'”

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She hurriedly drove to her brother’s condo on Nun’s Island, but he wasn’t there when she arrived.

She saw some police officers nearby and asked if they were there for her brother. They said yes, and they were trying to find him.

“I told them that my brother was in pain and that he might not be stable and that I needed to be with him to calm him down. Don’t shoot,” and asked him to pass this information on to his colleagues. But they told me to sit in the car. ”

Finally, a police officer told her that her brother had been found and taken to the hospital. A few hours later, she was informed by a doctor that her brother had died.

Quebec’s independent investigative agency, the Bureau of Independent Investigation (BEI), is investigating the circumstances surrounding Kay’s death. BEI investigates whenever a civilian is killed, seriously injured, or injured by a firearm used by a police officer during a police intervention.

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In a statement announcing its investigation, BEI claimed that at approximately 12:32 p.m. did. Berlioz Street on Nuns Island.

A BEI statement said the men likely pointed guns in their direction when police approached, and police fired at least one shot. I told the media.) Kay, who was seriously injured, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

SPVM has declined to comment on the event as the investigation continues.

“Ronnie didn’t have a police record,” his sister said. “He didn’t commit a crime. His brother was in trouble. He was defenseless. He just needed help.”

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Ronnie’s sister Michelle talked about how Ronnie has always worked hard to keep his body in good shape, paying close attention to exercise and nutrition. , she said, still had a life ahead of her.

“Something absolutely has to change in the way they intervene with people in distress.”

She expressed anger that no one in the SPVM had expressed condolences to her family, and hinted that their ethnic background was probably a factor in their lack of politeness and communication.

“The question we ask ourselves is, are we neglected? So we are a family that contributes to this society. I speak French. Ronnie spoke French. We grew up here, we were all born here.”

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She then recounted how her mother clashed with police just three weeks after Ronnie’s death. Her mother had a breakdown at the pharmacy, she said. This is believed to be related to the recent trauma of losing her son.The police were called. “When I got there, my mother was handcuffed against the wall, crying in pain. They put her in a police car and took her to the train station. ‘s mother has been accused of disturbing the peace and will have to appear in court in the next few weeks.”

“For us, this is just an abuse of power by police over vulnerable people,” said Michelle Kaye. “Things have to change. Not just for my brother’s sake, but for this society. We can’t live in fear of the police.”

Other speakers at the rally praised Ronnie Kay for volunteering at the Montreal Chinese Community United Center, saying he was a hardworking young man with great potential to give back to the community. said.

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The family issued an open letter to BEI Director Pierre Goulet, Quebec Chief Coroner Pascal Descary, Quebec Public Safety Minister François Bonadel, Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante, and Interim SPVM Chief Sophie Roy, informing the public coroner of the He requested an inquest and immediate access to psychosocial services. She sends her condolences from SPVM. So far, the letter has been signed by about 30 community and human rights organizations, including the Table ronde du Quartier Chinois, Chinese Family Services of Greater Montreal, Ligue des droits and libertés, and hundreds of individuals.

mlalonde@postmedia.com