“19-Year-Old Nigerian Student Afolabi Opaso Dies in Police-Involved Shooting at University of Manitoba Apartment: Investigation Transferred to ASIRT”

By | January 10, 2024

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Accident – death – Obituary News :

Police Watchdog Transfers Investigation of New Year’s Eve Shooting to Alberta Team

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU), Manitoba’s police watchdog, has announced that they have transferred the investigation of a police-involved shooting on New Year’s Eve to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT). The incident took place at an apartment off the University of Manitoba campus, and the decision to involve ASIRT comes after the IIU discovered a potential conflict of interest.

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The Shooting Incident

On December 31, at approximately 2:20 p.m., the Winnipeg Police received a report of an incident at an apartment suite on University Crescent. Upon arriving at the scene, an officer shot at an individual identified as Afolabi Opaso, a 19-year-old student from Nigeria. Paramedics immediately transported Opaso to the hospital in critical condition, but sadly, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away.


ASIRT’s Involvement and Reason for Transfer

The IIU has decided to involve the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) to investigate the shooting incident. The decision to transfer the case to ASIRT was made after the IIU’s civilian director, Roxanne Gagné, recommended their involvement. The primary reason for the out-of-province transfer is a potential conflict of interest that was discovered during the initial stages of the investigation.

It was revealed that one of the officers involved in the shooting is a close relative of an employee of Manitoba Justice. In order to avoid any perceived conflict of interest and to preserve the integrity of the investigative process, the IIU deemed it necessary to appoint an outside agency for this investigation.

Although the IIU has full confidence in the professionalism and integrity of their own investigators, they believe that involving an external agency will help maintain transparency and ensure an unbiased investigation.

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Preserving the Integrity of the Investigation

The IIU emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the investigative process in their statement. They acknowledged that while the relationship between the officer involved and the employee of Manitoba Justice does not raise concerns about the professionalism and integrity of the IIU’s investigators, the potential conflict of interest necessitates the involvement of an outside agency.

By transferring the investigation to ASIRT, the IIU aims to address any potential biases or perceptions that may arise due to the officer’s familial connection. This decision ensures that the investigation is conducted objectively and that the truth surrounding the shooting incident is uncovered.

The IIU’s move to involve ASIRT demonstrates their commitment to transparency and the pursuit of justice. The transfer of the investigation to an external agency will help instill public confidence in the process and contribute to a thorough and impartial examination of the events that transpired on New Year’s Eve.

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