Bad judgement? Young Man Shot Dead By RCMP

 I'm sure most people have heard about this tragedy circulating in the news. A young 20 something man shot by police who claim they were responding to a suicidal person in distress. There is little information about the investigation being released so there are many questions left unanswered.  Was he really in distress? What occured right before shots were fired? Has his family been noticing changes in his behavior? 

I am not sure if RCMP officers receive additional workshops or training in terms of how to best help someone who has mental health issues.  It would be a shame if this was another case of poor judgement because RCMP are not trained to recognize TRUE mental health flags.

 

Surrey police shooting: Hudson Brooks wasn't suicidal, says family

Beaudry Brooks, whose brother was shot dead by a Surrey RCMP officer, says Hudson Brooks was "a joy."

By Jesse Johnston, CBC News Posted: Jul 22, 2015 12:11 PM PT Last Updated: Jul 22, 2015 12:19 PM PT

Friends and family of the young man from Surrey who was shot dead by police last weekend haven't been able to find out much about why Hudson Brooks was killed.

The Independent Investigations Office has only said the 20-year-old was shot and killed early Saturday morning near the South Surrey RCMP detachment during some kind of altercation with an RCMP officer.

The female officer — who also suffered a gunshot wound to the leg during the incident — was responding to a call about a suicidal man in significant distress, according to the IIO.
But the Brooks family doesn't believe that was the case.
"He has been misrepresented," said Beaudry Brooks, Hudson's brother.

An RCMP officer walks underneath the Semiahmoo Library in South Surrey on Saturday, after Hudson Brooks was fatally shot by police. (Rafferty Baker/CBC)

"I've seen the word suicidal thrown around. That is not right. It's not what he was and anyone who knows him, his family and his friends, it's hurtful to see that."
In a statement released earlier this week, the IIO said, "Other than police issued equipment, nothing of significance was recovered from the scene."
When asked whether that means Brooks was unarmed, the organization said it won't elaborate on the wording of the release.

Quirky sense of humour

Murals dedicated to Hudson Brooks cover the South Surrey skate park that he used to frequent as a teenager.
People who used to run into Brooks at the park say they can't believe the young man, who was known for his sharp but friendly tongue, came to a violent end.
"He used to bug me, but he knew the way he would bug me would make me happy," Beaudry Brooks said.

Beaudry Brooks looks at a spray painted tribute to his brother Hudson Brooks. (Jesse Johnston)

"He would make fun of my nose. He would call people squid. He was quirky and happy and he made you feel good in his own way."
Paul Durand says Brooks was easy to get along with.
"He's a nice guy. A chill guy. He never hurt anybody," he said.
"He didn't deserve what happened to him. They didn't need to take their guns out and shoot him."
Neither the IIO, nor the RCMP has revealed what happened in the moments leading up to the shooting, and why, or how a weapon was drawn.