Man fatally shot by N.L. police needed help and didn't get it, friend says
A Sudanese man fatally shot by police in Newfoundland and Labrador came to Canada hoping to find a better life, but he never got the help he needed, his friend says.
Choul William was audibly emotional Tuesday as he described how Omar Mohammed bounced in and out of a mental-health hospital in St. John's, only to be released into a city where he didn't have a permanent home or job. Mohammed was a former child soldier who had serious mental-health issues stemming from extreme trauma, William said.
William and Newfoundland and Labrador's Sudanese community waited more than two weeks for officials to confirm Tuesday that Mohammed was shot by a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer in St. John's on the morning of June 12.
"Why did they shoot him when they know he has mental problems?" William said, adding that Mohammed thought life in Canada, and Newfoundland, would be better than in Sudan. "He thought he was going to get good treatment and everything in his life is going to be changed."
The province's police watchdog agency -- Serious Incident Response Team or SIRT-NL -- first issued a news release about the shooting on June 12, saying it was investigating what happened. A followup release said a civilian man had been killed in an "officer-involved shooting," and the officer had been injured. Neither news releases mentioned Mohammed by name. The agency said last week in a third release that the victim was a new Canadian and that it had been struggling to contact his next of kin.
William said he was sharing a single rented room with Mohammed when he was killed, adding that his friend made what little money he had returning recyclables. The two met at a ceremony for new Canadians in 2014, and after some time in Canada, Mohammed wanted to go back home, William said.
On the morning of the shooting, Mohammed went to the grocery store and made breakfast, William said. They ate together, and then they set out for the day. Mohammed never came home. When William saw news stories about the shooting, he phoned the police to report Mohammed missing and to ask if his friend was the man who had been shot.
He was without answers from authorities until Tuesday afternoon.
Abubaker Hamed said he and other members of the Sudanese Community Association had also been asking police if Mohammed had been involved in the shooting. The group had assembled a small team to go to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's headquarters in St. John's to inquire and had also contacted SIRT-NL after police told them to do so, he said in an interview Tuesday.
The Sudanese community is "anxious" and deeply concerned about the shooting, he said.
"Considering that (Mohammed) has a history of mental illness, they are very worried, like why police are using excessive force to deal with a member of the Sudanese community?" Hamed said, adding that they wonder if racism was involved.
He said he felt some relief Tuesday when SIRT-NL contacted members of the community to confirm Mohammed was the man killed, and to explain their investigation into the shooting.
Mohammed was convicted last year in provincial court for charges including sexual assault and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. As of June 1, he was wanted on an outstanding warrant for breaching court orders, according to a news release at that time from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
SIRT-NL said Tuesday it was unable to notify Mohammed's family about his death.
"We have now confirmed the identity of the deceased with his closest friend and roommate. We have also reached out to other members of the Sudanese community," the release said, noting that SIRT-NL's investigation into the shooting was ongoing.
William said he, too, was relieved when officials confirmed Mohammed's identity. He said he is now searching for a lawyer who will investigate and help him fight for his friend.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
For moms-to-be, it's possible to take maternity leave without breaking the bank
Pregnancy is often an exciting and anxious time for parents-to-be. And while painting the nursery and choosing a stroller are typically on the agenda, experts say preparing financially for a maternity leave can help reduce stress later on as well.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar's beef: 'Nobody won the war'
While some may have been excited and/or amused by the diss-track feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the man many consider to be an elder statesman of hip-hop appears less than enthused about it.
Israel orders new evacuations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah as it prepares to expand operations
Israel ordered new evacuations in Gaza's southern city of Rafah on Saturday, forcing tens of thousands more people to move as it prepares to expand its operation and adding that it is also moving into an area in northern Gaza where Hamas has regrouped.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.