A coroner’s inquest heard that the police altercation and shooting death of Justin Bourassa, 29, of Sarnia, happened in a matter of seconds in the early morning hours of Oct. 28, 2021. London Police Const. Joshua Ryan told the jury that he and his partner Const. Ryan Hendrick they were attempting to stop Bourassa as part of a suspected break and enter investigation along Richmond Row in downtown London. “I would have yelled, ‘Hey stop I just want to talk to you for a moment…if you’re not involved you can be on your way,’” he testified. The officer said Bourassa, a one-time tennis instructor, matched the description of who they were looking for in connection with the investigation. Once he walked between businesses down an alley off Richmond Street, Ryan tried to stop him. “I say, ‘I’m going to handcuff you and pat you down’…he starts to pull away and is trying to flee,” he said. The officers then got into a physical altercation, with Ryan testifying, “We keep getting spun around...we all go down to the ground.” He continued, “Mr. Bourassa has his right arm around Ryan’s neck in a rear naked choke...I tried to rip off Mr. Bourassa a number of times.” He says the situation then became grave with Hendrick saying, “I can see that Ryan is gasping for air, his eyes glossing over...he’s trying to scream, talk and I can see Mr. Bourassa had locked him successfully into a rear naked choke.” He then says there was only one option. “Before he [Hendrick] passes out or dies...I removed my firearm, found centre mass and discharged one round,” he testified. “We attempted lifesaving measures and CPR,” Ryan added. A video of the scene was played, and the altercation and single gunshot can be heard. Ryan then tells the police dispatcher, “Shots fired. Need an ambulance. Police are okay.” Ryan said the situation escalated quickly like no other, saying, “I had made attempts to remove him, there were no other means I could have done. If I had hesitated longer, I sit here and say I could have lost a best friend.” The inquest has heard that Bourassa, who suffered from mental health issues, had nothing to do with the suspected break-in. In the days after the shooting three men would turn themselves into police, telling officers they were out in the area on the night in question with tools and a ladder stealing street signs. The inquest is slated to last until May 12.
