Chantel Moore shot by N.B. police officer in chest, abdomen and leg, inquest hears

FREDERICTON -

Chantel Moore, a 26-year-old Indigenous woman killed by police in New Brunswick in June 2020, was shot twice in the chest, once in the abdomen and once in her left leg, the pathologist who conducted an autopsy on her said Wednesday.

Dr. Marek Godlewski testified on Day 3 of the coroner's inquest in Fredericton into Moore's death, and he told jurors Moore died of gunshot wounds.

Moore was killed by a police officer in Edmundston, N.B., on June 4, 2020, during a wellness check after she allegedly advanced toward the responding officer while holding a knife.

Godlewski detailed the entrance points for each bullet and the damage they did, noting that three of the four bullets were retrieved.

Twice during Wednesday's testimony, Moore's mother, Martha Martin, became emotional and had to be helped out of the room.

Forensic toxicologist James Wigmore told the inquest that Moore had the equivalent of five beers in her system when she was killed, adding that she would not have shown any serious signs of intoxication.

On Tuesday, Const. Jeremy Son, the Edmundston police officer who shot Moore, testified that she was sleeping on a couch inside her apartment when he knocked on the window and woke her at around 2:30 a.m. He said he came to her home following a call from Moore's ex-boyfriend, who told police about receiving disturbing text messages that seemed to come from someone who may have been stalking her.

Son said Moore appeared to grab something metallic before approaching the door. He said she exited the apartment onto the third-floor balcony holding a knife and looking angry. Son said she advanced toward him and he backed up and told her to drop the knife. He said she didn't and he fired his handgun four times in rapid succession.

Wigmore was asked Wednesday if the amount of alcohol in Moore's system would have affected her understanding of the officer's demand to drop the knife. He said her reaction time "would be delayed, but not significantly." He added that the toxicology report showed no drugs in Moore's system.

The shooting was investigated by Quebec's independent police watchdog -- the Bureau des enquetes independantes. Francois Coiteau, the main investigator, said the bureau gathered evidence and made no conclusions or recommendations to New Brunswick prosecutors.

"We never draw any conclusions or make comments," Coiteau told the inquest Wednesday.

He said his team was unable to determine the distance between Son and Moore at the time of the shooting. The knife was examined for fingerprints, Coiteau said, adding that only three partial prints were found and they were inconclusive.

The New Brunswick Police Commission also examined the shooting after complaints were filed against Son in August 2020 alleging he improperly used his firearm and abused his authority.

Jean-Rene Levesque, an investigator for the commission, told the inquest Wednesday that Son was cleared of the accusations.

Levesque presented to the inquest a number of videos produced during a re-enactment of the night of the shooting. He said he didn't think Moore would have been able to see in the dark that Son was a police officer.

The final witness of the day was Alain Lang, who retired last month as chief of the Edmundston Police Force. He said the force only had one working Taser in June 2020, adding that he later ordered enough to have five working units.

Lang said all officers are given training in the use of firearms, Tasers, pepper spray and batons. He said that while Tasers are provided, not all officers use them. "It's a work tool. They are not compelled to wear it," he told the jury.

One final witness is expected to be called Thursday. It will then be up to the coroner's jury to make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths under similar circumstances.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2022.