Jury members at the coroner’s inquest looking into the London police shooting death of a Sarnia man have returned with 10 recommendations meant to prevent future similar incidents. Justin Bourassa, 29, was walking along Richmond Row in downtown London in October 2021, when officers mistook him for a suspect involved in a break and enter investigation. Bourassa was fatally shot during an altercation with the officers. They were trying to handcuff him, but he ended up placing one of them in a chokehold. The jury’s recommendations include developing police scenario-specific guidelines for de-escalation and conflict prevention, maintaining situational decision-making in use of force encounters, and reviewing and enhancing training programs - including safe handcuffing techniques. The officers involved were cleared by the province’s Special Investigation’s Unit.
