(This is a 35 second video capturing moment an RCMP officer shoots Evan Cromarty, 20, in Norway House, Sunday.)
By Shaneen Robinson
APTN National News
WINNIPEG–Four gunshots are audible on cell phone video capturing the moment when an RCMP officer shot an unarmed 20 year-old man in Norway House, Man., Sunday.
The screams of women can also be heard in 35 second video which ends with the voice of a man wondering why the police officer shot the man.
“Why did he shoot him?” said the voice of a man captured on the video, obtained by APTN National News Monday.
A team of civilian and police investigators from Alberta is now probing Sunday’s shooting.
Manitoba RCMP said in a statement the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) was now in charge of the file.
ASIRT is tasked with investigating any incidents involving the injury of death of civilians at the hands of police officers in Alberta. The team is comprised of a mix of civilian, police and military investigators.
The involvement of the Alberta investigators on the file surfaced following a meeting between RCMP D Division Assistant Kevin Brosseau, RCMP Chief Superintendent Scott Kolody and Norway House Chief Ron Evans Monday.
“The meeting was positive and concerns regarding the event and the relationship between the community and the police were discussed,” the RCMP said in a statement
Manitoba RCMP said in a statement the police force would not be commenting on the incident while ASIRT conducts its investigation.
Evans said his community is angry over the incident.
“Why did this have to happen? Why didn’t somebody use common sense?” said Evans.
The shooting unfolded Sunday during a boys baseball tournament involving players aged nine to 12. Witnesses said an RCMP officer fired four shots at Evan Cromarty, 20, who was hit at least once in the arm.
“The cops fired four shots, but he got struck in the arm because he went down,” said witness Glen Moritz, who was coaching one of the baseball teams at the time. “For me, personally, I was scared just seeing that and the kids, they’re just terrified.
Moritz said Cromarty’s brothers, aged 10 and 12, witnessed the shooting.
Cromarty faced firearm charges for an incident in Norway House back in 2012. Evans said that was no reason to fire on the unarmed man.
“Whatever it was, there was no need for gunfire,” he said.
Evans said Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and deputy premier Eric Robinson phoned him after the incident.
“They both suggested and are supporting that we get an independent investigation done,” said Evans.
Cromarty is currently recovering in hospital.
@shaneenthescene
it’s all the same everywhere with the rcmp’s , if it a native shoot first then ask questions and cover it up with bs statements afterwards
There is no need for investigation. The officer should be considered extremely dangerous for the public and charged immediately with agrevated assault a and attempted murder.
why you bring up a “weapons charge’ from 2012 is beyond me – just more of that colonial type of reporting shit .. And you highlight an RCMP organization (just another label of the same police force) “a mix of civilians, police, military” hmmm, I wonder how that will play out? 1-2 (civilians) – (police, military-one in the same pretty much)! Furthermore, in an ignorant and racist place such as Manitoba or “provinces” near it – I wonder how impartial and unbiased that is going to turn out for a young brother and his family .. Damn, sometimes IDK about aptn – same ole assimilated and colonial b.s as the rest … Why could they not to a degree report just as I did ..crazy and sad – Rest Eazy Young niikan …
poor kids are scared of the cops and something similar happened to my family. Poor kids shouldn’t be scared of cops
Shoot first, ask questions later.
unreal this shit had to happen,wtf was the cop thinking when he discharged his firearm infront of many children that were playing a ball,the kids that witnessed the shooting will forever remember the event for the rest of there lives,unreal ,somebody cudov died ,thank god no kid got killed from the many bullets that were flying