There is no indication answers to what happened to Jorden McKay will be coming any time soon.
It has been nearly nine months since the 27-year-old was fatally shot by a police officer at his Corner Brook residence the night of Nov. 27, 2018.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary went to McKay’s home at around 11:30 p.m. that night. Police said there was a confrontation and McKay ended up being shot.
He died in hospital about an hour later.
As with other police shootings in Newfoundland and Labrador, the investigation was turned over to the Ontario Provincial Police as an outside agency.
There have been no further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Last week, a spokesperson for the Ontario Provincial Police confirmed via an emailed response the investigation is not over yet.
“The investigation is moving along,” wrote Staff Sgt. Carolle Dionne, the OPP's media relations manager.
Dionne said forensic testing results are still pending as well as other processes that need to be followed through.
She said due to the nature of the investigation and for evidentiary reasons, details would not be more specific at this time.
Last March, McKay’s sister told The Western Star waiting to find out why her brother was killed was like a nightmare for her family.
Lisa Greening has been in regular contact with an OPP liaison. She said she has not been told anything differently other than the investigation is not complete, pending more forensic testing.
As frustrating as it has been, Greening holds out hope the wait will provide answers for her family, her brother’s friends and the community at large.
“We just want justice for Jordan,” she said. “He is so missed and loved by our family and his friends and every day is a struggle, not knowing what happened to him.”
Some investigations into previous police shootings in Newfoundland and Labrador have resulted in conclusions about the officer’s use of force being made public much more quickly. The timeframe had roughly been within three months or so.
However, the most recent one took more than 18 months before the officer was cleared of any wrongdoing.
The investigation into the April 2015 killing of Donald Dunphy in Mitchell’s Brook took 10 months for the OPP to compete, and seven more months for the OPP’s findings to be reviewed by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team. It took an additional month-and-a-half for the RCMP to publicly confirm the shooting officer would not be charged with any criminal offence.
As with the Dunphy case, the OPP’s investigation into McKay’s shooting will be passed along to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team for review when it is completed.
Here are some timelines of investigations into previous shootings involving police officers in Newfoundland and Labrador
Nicholas Beneteau, Point May
March 2, 1996: fatally shot by an RCMP officer
March 4, 1996: Provincial justice minister announces judicial inquiry
RCMP testified at subsequent inquiry that officers’ response was consistent with training
Charles Jody Crane, St. John’s
Aug. 16, 2000: wounded by gunshot fired by an RNC officer
Aug. 19, 2000: OPP is investigating
Nov. 3, 2000: OPP determines no grounds for criminal charges against the officer involved
Norman Reid, Little Catalina
Aug. 26, 2000: fatally shot by an RCMP officer
Sept. 12: OPP begins investigation
Dec. 7: OPP determines no criminal charges warranted
Darryl Power, Corner Brook
Oct. 16, 2000: fatal shooting (RNC)
Jan. 10, 2001: OPP confirms it has completed its investigation, planning meeting with NL director of public prosecutions Jan. 17-21
Jan. 19, 2001: OPP rules no grounds for criminal charges, judicial inquiry announced
Donald Dunphy, Mitchell’s Brook:
April 5, 2015: fatally shot (RNC)
Investigation by RCMP’s Major Crime Unit completed in January 2016
Feb. 1, 2016: Alberta SIRT asked to review RCMP investigation
Aug. 31, 2016: RCMP receives Alberta SIRT report
Sept. 9, 2016: RCMP still won’t discuss its investigation or Alberta SIRT review of it
Sept. 13, 2016: RCMP confirms no charges will be laid against officer
Source: Saltwire Network
