On Thursday police shot and killed an Indigenous man in Ottawa.
Thirty-year-old Saugeen First Nation member Gregory Ritchie was reportedly walking to a pharmacy to pick up some medication.
But minutes before the pharmacy opened for the day Ottawa police were called to the strip mall about a “suspicious incident” involving a man allegedly seen entering the building with a knife in his hand.
An altercation ensued, during which Ritchie was reportedly shot multiple times.
One of the officers reportedly received minor injuries.
A family member told local media the Ojibwe man was living with mental illness and struggled to cope in public and crowded spaces.
He had recently moved to Ottawa from Kitchener, Ont. and was living with his brother and sister-in-law in the city’s south end.
The officers involved in the shooting have been identified as constables Thanh Tran and Daniel Vincelette.
Tran previously faced charges of assault causing bodily harm following the arrest of a 50-year-old homeless man in 2011, but was acquitted in 2013.
Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, is investigating Thursday’s incident.
news.ca
I am 58 yrs old now, but when I was in my 30s an 40s I was a target where ever I went. I was always in fear of something happening to me. Life for a First Nations Male isn’t easy. But for some strange reason the law saw what was happening to me. I did receive help for the on going abuse that was happening. this was stopped for my safety. I can see the truth that the police were acting on their there own rules too show that they had a right to kill a First Nations person! Meaning! they are using the Indian act to justify their rights to kill a native person. I believe if the Euro-Canadians can place an ACT on First Nations, then there should be an Act placed on Euro-canadians
I am 58 yrs old now, but when I was in my 30s an 40s I was a target where ever I went. I was always in fear of something happening to me. Life for a First Nations Male isn’t easy. But for some strange reason the law saw what was happening to me. I did receive help for the on going abuse that was happening. this was stopped for my safety. I can see the truth that the police were acting on their there own rules too show that they had a right to kill a First Nations person! Meaning! they are using the Indian act to justify their rights to kill a native person. I believe if the Euro-Canadians can place an ACT on First Nations, then there should be an Act placed on Euro-canadians
Right was the knife found and the discription of what the individual discribe him as this young man at the pharmacy? My condolences and hope the truth comes out.
How do people get on the special investigations unit or is it just retired policemen or women ?
Right was the knife found and the discription of what the individual discribe him as this young man at the pharmacy? My condolences and hope the truth comes out.
How do people get on the special investigations unit or is it just retired policemen or women ?
My brother and few cousins are police officers and if they are within a 25ft radius with a weapon they can shoot the person becuz it only takes 1.5seconds togo from 0 to25 feet with any weapon
My brother and few cousins are police officers and if they are within a 25ft radius with a weapon they can shoot the person becuz it only takes 1.5seconds togo from 0 to25 feet with any weapon
Very sad, prayers to Gregory’s family.
It sounds like excessive force, but until we know all the facts..let’s just hope the truth comes out, unfortunately we’ll only have a one-sided police testimony.
Racism Lives! Aboriginal people feel it the most and this isnt being addressed with reconciliation crap either. No wonder people carry knives. Those pigs should be put in jail.
Very sad, prayers to Gregory’s family.
It sounds like excessive force, but until we know all the facts..let’s just hope the truth comes out, unfortunately we’ll only have a one-sided police testimony.
Racism Lives! Aboriginal people feel it the most and this isnt being addressed with reconciliation crap either. No wonder people carry knives. Those pigs should be put in jail.
Probably because he “fit the description” Will this ever stop?
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerehhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooo! Remember us when you are walking home. Only good spirits walk with you grandmother
Probably because he “fit the description” Will this ever stop?
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerehhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooo! Remember us when you are walking home. Only good spirits walk with you grandmother
no matter the situation, multiple shots were not required. What happened to the use of a stun gun? The history of one officer, shows he has control, self restraint issues and should not be in a uniform!
It also said that one officer received injuries which means that the situation was dangerous enough to require the discharge of their firearm .
How come some officers can take down a dangerous suspect without any problem even if they state that they have a gun(the guy who ran over people along Yonge street in TO) and others have to kill the “suspect“? It just makes no sense. If one can do it, every one should be trained the same and have the tools to do the same. There is no need for deaths.
no matter the situation, multiple shots were not required. What happened to the use of a stun gun? The history of one officer, shows he has control, self restraint issues and should not be in a uniform!
It also said that one officer received injuries which means that the situation was dangerous enough to require the discharge of their firearm .
How come some officers can take down a dangerous suspect without any problem even if they state that they have a gun(the guy who ran over people along Yonge street in TO) and others have to kill the “suspect”? It just makes no sense. If one can do it, every one should be trained the same and have the tools to do the same. There is no need for deaths.
This is very sad, first off, condolences to the families and all who loved and cared for this young man. I honestly do not understand why the police do not use tasers in these kind of situations? What if a person is on mind altering drugs and or has a mental disability? Why are the officers not trained for this kind of situation to professionally be aware of these kind of behaviours in people? Do they not have tactical moves to be able to jump and take down people with knives in their hands? I can see if it’s a kill or be killed situation like having a gun? The police should use any kind of tactic first and foremost to try to save lives then to be cowards and shoot to kill.
That’s murder in my eyes and they should be tried to the fullest extent of the law.
People in Kitchener who knew him call him a quiet,peaceful man who was very interested in the beauty of nature and he was the firewatcher for the Conestoga Pow,Wow. He was not problematic. He was different. Not a danger. This is very sad. It must be investigated.
This is very sad, first off, condolences to the families and all who loved and cared for this young man. I honestly do not understand why the police do not use tasers in these kind of situations? What if a person is on mind altering drugs and or has a mental disability? Why are the officers not trained for this kind of situation to professionally be aware of these kind of behaviours in people? Do they not have tactical moves to be able to jump and take down people with knives in their hands? I can see if it’s a kill or be killed situation like having a gun? The police should use any kind of tactic first and foremost to try to save lives then to be cowards and shoot to kill.
That’s murder in my eyes and they should be tried to the fullest extent of the law.
much sickened by this news; when will the senseless killing of young First Nations people stop? my sympathies to his family.
We don’t know the full story yet but the police officers should of recognized a mentally ill person as he was standing in front of a Pharmacy likely trying to get his medication for his illness.. Its very sad. The officer did have some injuries as reported but was not severe. My first question is what happened to tasers police are known to carry them if not would likely have them in the cruiser. If not they should. Second question is, if your a cop and dont have the adequate self defense skills to know how to deflect, block and redirect a untrained person trying to attake you with a knife then you should not be a police officer!!! If you have to rely on a gun your not fit for the job.
People in Kitchener who knew him call him a quiet,peaceful man who was very interested in the beauty of nature and he was the firewatcher for the Conestoga Pow,Wow. He was not problematic. He was different. Not a danger. This is very sad. It must be investigated.
“13 year old Boy” not man! “Kid” not man! Seriously you all done wrong! You took the opportunity to kill instead of assist! So bad and sad.
I HAVE REPORTED TO APTN NEWS ABOUT MY DAUGHTER JACQUELINE LATAE BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE AS FAR AS IT WAS INVESTIGATED
C’mon, what license did those officers have to shoot an unarmed man?. Its not hard to recognize the signs of mental illness around me, why can’t officers with all their training and enough weoponry on their belts assure themselves they are safe against someone armed with a knife, see the same signs???? If Canadian officers are going to continue to assassinate Canadians, put women in the field !! Enough already.
much sickened by this news; when will the senseless killing of young First Nations people stop? my sympathies to his family.
We don’t know the full story yet but the police officers should of recognized a mentally ill person as he was standing in front of a Pharmacy likely trying to get his medication for his illness.. Its very sad. The officer did have some injuries as reported but was not severe. My first question is what happened to tasers police are known to carry them if not would likely have them in the cruiser. If not they should. Second question is, if your a cop and dont have the adequate self defense skills to know how to deflect, block and redirect a untrained person trying to attake you with a knife then you should not be a police officer!!! If you have to rely on a gun your not fit for the job.
So sad. Prayers for justice for Gregory’’s Family.
“13 year old Boy” not man! “Kid” not man! Seriously you all done wrong! You took the opportunity to kill instead of assist! So bad and sad.
Sad but true of our serve and protect goons. No mental health training. Look what RCMP are doing to Indigenous in BC. Too many like this and the SIU are not the answer to curb this. They will say they had cause. Canada has become a mess.
Was there a knife on found his person ?
I HAVE REPORTED TO APTN NEWS ABOUT MY DAUGHTER JACQUELINE LATAE BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE AS FAR AS IT WAS INVESTIGATED
C’mon, what license did those officers have to shoot an unarmed man?. Its not hard to recognize the signs of mental illness around me, why can’t officers with all their training and enough weoponry on their belts assure themselves they are safe against someone armed with a knife, see the same signs???? If Canadian officers are going to continue to assassinate Canadians, put women in the field !! Enough already.
So sad. Prayers for justice for Gregory”s Family.
What ever happened to common sense. 2 police officiers should easily control one individual in a near empty mall. Even if he resisted their requests is death a reasonable outcome?
This is tyranny against natives yet we let imvetted criminals on everyday thanks trudope
Yes Racism Lives here in KKKanada
Sad but true of our serve and protect goons. No mental health training. Look what RCMP are doing to Indigenous in BC. Too many like this and the SIU are not the answer to curb this. They will say they had cause. Canada has become a mess.
Was there a knife on found his person ?
What ever happened to common sense. 2 police officiers should easily control one individual in a near empty mall. Even if he resisted their requests is death a reasonable outcome?
This is tyranny against natives yet we let imvetted criminals on everyday thanks trudope
Yes Racism Lives here in KKKanada
was he the one they were calling for or was it mistaken identity? smh
It’s pretty sad for the family sorry for.your loss but the constable that shot and killed the man i wouldnt want to be you when you leave this world onto the next then you will know you can just shoot someone and get away with it maybe here but when you move on you will be 100% accountable your badge won’t mean a thing over there
Rotten Cowards they are : ??????
article opens claiming incident took place on thursday and ends referring to the event as “friday’s incident”.
Thank you for the correction.
was he the one they were calling for or was it mistaken identity? smh
It’s pretty sad for the family sorry for.your loss but the constable that shot and killed the man i wouldnt want to be you when you leave this world onto the next then you will know you can just shoot someone and get away with it maybe here but when you move on you will be 100% accountable your badge won’t mean a thing over there
Rotten Cowards they are : ??????
article opens claiming incident took place on thursday and ends referring to the event as “friday’s incident”.
Thank you for the correction.