Inquest into fatal police shooting of Andrew Loku begins Monday

By The Canadian Press and News Staff

An inquest into the death of Andrew Loku began on Monday. Family, friends and a coalition of rights groups gathered to find out what happened in the moments before he was fatally shot by police in the summer of 2015.

Officers were called to the third floor of an apartment building on Gilbert Avenue, near Rogers and Caledonia roads, around midnight on July 15.

Police said Loku was holding a hammer and walking toward them when he was shot and killed.

Police and the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said that officers had their guns drawn and repeatedly told Loku to drop the hammer, but he was shot twice when he came within two or three metres of one officer. He died in the hallway.

The SIU found that the officer who shot him did not exceed the range of justifiable force.

Coroner Dr. James Edwards said the inquest will examine the events surrounding Loku’s death and the jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths.

Loku’s Past

The inquest jury heard about Loku’s past and a picture emerged of a man, who the family’s lawyer said, “only hoped for a better and peaceful life” after the horrors he had experienced in his home country Sudan.

Loku came from a large family. When war broke out in the country, he was kidnapped, held captive and tortured by rebel forces.

He managed to escape to Uganda, but was forced to leave behind his wife and five children.

The lawyer said Loku came to Canada in 2004 and worked towards becoming a productive member of Canadian society.

He was able to find a home with the assistance of the Canadian Mental Health Association and was working as a janitor.

He also graduated from the George Brown Craft Construction Programs. Jurors were shown a picture of a smiling Loku on graduation day.

 

Loku’s mental health

The lawyer representing Loku’s family told the jury he was having a promising year leading up to his death.

He added that he was a kind, gentle man who wanted to bring his family to Canada, but tragically that dream will never be realised.

He said Loku was battling PTSD and was a recovering alcoholic and availed of mental health services.

Despite his demons and the heart-wrenching separation from family under dire circumstances, the 45-year-old was living and working independently. With the help of mental health agency Across Boundaries, he acquired Canadian citizenship, graduated from a college program and landed a job.

His mental health was reportedly relatively stable in the last few years of his life.

Loku’s death

Coroner’s council Michael Blain provided details of the circumstances surrounding Loku’s death.

On July 5, 2015, Loku was reportedly stopped by police who were concerned for his safety while he was driving his e-bike on the Don Valley Parkway.

He allegedly appeared to be slightly confused and smelled faintly of alcohol. He claimed his GPS directed him onto the highway as he was trying to get home.

Police drove Loku back to his apartment along with his e-bike. Once inside, neighbours heard banging coming from Loku’s apartment.

When a woman went to investigate, Loku reportedly met her on the stairs, hiding a hammer behind his back.

The woman’s daughter witnessed the encounter and says Loku  “threatened to get her, kill her”.

Two police officers responded to a 911 call from another woman saying Loku was trying to attack her friend’s mother.

The call was recorded and captured the sounds of the last few moments of Loku’s life. Police are heard arriving and seconds later, two shots are fired. A woman is heard crying before the call ends.

Video footage from a security camera in the hallway shows police trying to talk to Loku who is holding a hammer.

Both officers asked him to drop the hammer several times as he walked towards them, fearing he might use it to harm them. One officer claims Loku said “What you going to do?” while the other says Loku said nothing.

Only one of the officers pulled the trigger, firing two shots that hit Loku in the heart and left lung/upper shoulder area. More officers then broke into the apartment building to assist.

Autopsy results showed that Loku’s blood alcohol level was 3 times the legal limit.

The inquest

The inquest will delve into police use of lethal force and de-escalation. It will also explore if Loku’s race and implicit bias was a factor in the shooting, though officers have training in implicit bias regarding race.

Police interactions with people suffering from mental health issues will also be examined alongside the state of Loku’s mental health at the time of his death. While he was reportedly in stable mental condition, the possibility that he was angry or in crisis at the time of his death will be analyzed.

According to the Black Action Defence Committee, the inquest will explore where race, mental health crisis and policing intersect.

 

Related stories:

SIU rules police used ‘justifiable force’ in shooting of Andrew Loku

Police review clears officers of wrongdoing in Andrew Loku shooting

Coroner’s inquest called into Andrew Loku’s death in police shooting market

 

Loku’s death and the absolving of police wrongdoing fueled Black Lives Matter protests in Toronto.

After the shooting, activists camped out in front of Toronto police headquarters for two weeks, demanding a provincial review of the SIU. They also wanted the names of officers involved in Loku’s shooting to be released.

Protesters also held a vigil for Loku in front of Premier Kathleen Wynne’s home, sparking a police investigation.

The inquest is expected to last three weeks and hear from approximately 20 witnesses.

 

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today