Jury Hears Closing Submissions at Coroner’s Inquest into Police Shooting Death of Sarnia Man 2026

Key Points

• The coroner’s inquest into the police shooting death of Justin Bourassa, 29, from Sarnia, concluded with closing submissions from all parties involved.
• The incident occurred in the early morning hours of 28 October 2021, when two London police constables attempted to detain Bourassa after mistaking him for a suspect in a suspected break-in along Richmond Row.
• Bourassa had prior interactions with police in other jurisdictions before the fatal encounter.
• During the stop, Bourassa placed one officer, Constable Ryan Hednrick, in a rear naked choke, prompting the second officer, Constable Joshua Ryan, to shoot him within seconds.
• All parties described the death as tragic.
• Meaghan Daniel, lawyer for the Bourassa family, urged the jury to consider de-escalation tactics such as time, distance, and conflict avoidance.
• Lucas O’Hara, lawyer for the officers, argued that recommendations must align with evidence, describing the encounter as rapidly escalating from detention to a life-threatening scenario.
• Fraser Kelly, representing London Police Chief Thai Truong, stated officers had a duty to stop Bourassa and that extreme violence sometimes necessitates firearm use.
• Inquest Counsel Phil Tsui highlighted 14 proposed recommendations, including scenario-specific guidelines for de-escalation during investigative detentions.
• The jury is expected to deliberate and produce its own recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

London (Britain Today News) May 11, 2026 – A coroner’s inquest jury has heard final submissions in the probe into the fatal police shooting of Justin Bourassa, a 29-year-old man from Sarnia, on 28 October 2021. The tragedy unfolded in the early morning hours when two London police constables mistook Bourassa for a suspect in a break-in along Richmond Row and attempted to detain him. Within seconds of the confrontation, Bourassa placed one officer in a chokehold, leading the other to fire a shot that proved fatal.

What Led to the Fatal Encounter?

The jury revisited the sequence of events that lasted a mere 80 seconds but has haunted the Bourassa family for years. Prior to this incident, Bourassa had interactions with police in other jurisdictions, a detail presented to provide context without prejudging his actions that night. The constables approached him during an investigative detention linked to the suspected break-in. As the situation escalated rapidly, Bourassa’s response shifted the dynamic dramatically.

Meaghan Daniel, representing the Bourassa family, emphasised the brevity of the interaction during her address.

“We spent over a week together examining an interaction that lasted only 80 seconds,”

she told the jury. She highlighted the profound loss, stating,

“The Bourassa family lost their son. They’ve spent years trying to understand what happened in the final moments of Justin’s life and trying to make meaning from it, otherwise they cannot accept his loss.”

How Did the Confrontation Unfold?

Testimony detailed how Constable Ryan Hednrick was placed in a rear naked choke by Bourassa, a move that immediately endangered his life. Constable Joshua Ryan responded by discharging his firearm within seconds. Lucas O’Hara, the lawyer for the two officers, defended their actions as a necessary response to imminent threat.

“Recommendations have to be based on evidence and reality. This was a rapidly escalating encounter where Mr. Bourassa’s conduct changed the situation from an investigative detention into a serious bodily harm or death scenario within seconds,”

O’Hara submitted.

This account underscores the high-stakes nature of police encounters, where split-second decisions can determine life or death. The inquest meticulously reconstructed these moments through evidence, witness statements, and expert analysis over the course of the proceedings.

Why Did Officers Intervene That Night?

Fraser Kelly, speaking on behalf of London Police Chief Thai Truong, affirmed the officers’ legal and professional obligations.

“When people choose to become extremely violent with police, sometimes police need to use their guns,”

Kelly told the jury. He stressed that the constables had a clear duty to stop Bourassa given the circumstances of the suspected break-in and the unfolding resistance.

The intervention stemmed from a mistaken identity tied to the Richmond Row incident, highlighting the challenges of night-time policing in urban areas. All parties agreed on the tragic outcome, yet differed on the pathways to prevention.

What De-escalation Measures Were Proposed?

De-escalation emerged as a central theme in the closing arguments. Meaghan Daniel advocated for principles like time, distance, and conflict avoidance.

“Consider de-escalation measures like time, distance and conflict avoidance,”

she urged the jury, framing these as viable options even in tense scenarios.

Inquest Counsel Phil Tsui presented 14 proposed recommendations from participants, focusing on practical reforms. Among them:

“Develop scenario-specific guidelines to support de-escalation and conflict prevention in investigative detentions,”

Tsui suggested. These aim to equip officers with tools tailored to investigative stops, potentially averting escalations like the one involving Bourassa.

Who Are the Key Figures Involved?

• Justin Bourassa: The 29-year-old Sarnia resident at the centre of the inquest, killed during the police encounter.
• Constable Ryan Hednrick: The officer subjected to the rear naked choke.
• Constable Joshua Ryan: The officer who fired the fatal shot.
• Meaghan Daniel: Family lawyer, voice for the Bourassas.
• Lucas O’Hara: Officers’ counsel, emphasising evidentiary realism.
• Fraser Kelly: Representative for Chief Thai Truong.
• Phil Tsui: Inquest Counsel, compiler of recommendations.

Each played a pivotal role in shaping the narrative through their submissions.

What Is the Role of the Coroner’s Inquest?

Coroner’s inquests in Ontario serve not to assign blame but to examine circumstances of unnatural deaths and recommend preventive measures. Here, the focus remained on Bourassa’s shooting, with the jury poised to craft its own set of proposals. This process ensures systemic lessons emerge from individual tragedies, influencing police training and protocols.

The week-long examination of an 80-second event exemplifies the inquest’s thoroughness, balancing empathy for the family with operational realities for law enforcement.

How Has the Bourassa Family Responded?

The family’s grief permeated Daniel’s submissions, transforming legal arguments into human stories. Years of seeking answers have not dulled their pain, as Daniel conveyed. Their pursuit of meaning underscores broader questions about accountability and support for families in similar situations.

What Happens After Closing Submissions?

The jury now deliberates, expected to produce recommendations addressing gaps in training, policy, or response tactics. These could range from enhanced de-escalation training to better guidelines for detentions, directly responding to the 14 proposals tabled. Preventing future deaths like Bourassa’s remains the ultimate goal.

Broader Implications for Policing?

This inquest spotlights ongoing debates around use-of-force incidents. Officers face unpredictable threats, as O’Hara noted, yet calls for de-escalation grow louder amid public scrutiny. Kelly’s defence of firearm use reflects training doctrines prioritising officer safety, while Tsui’s suggestions bridge both worlds.

Prior police interactions with Bourassa in other areas were noted, providing backstory without implying causation. The Richmond Row context adds layers, as break-in probes often involve high-risk stops.

Detailed Timeline of Events

• Pre-incident: Bourassa’s history of police contacts in other jurisdictions.
• 28 October 2021, early morning: Suspected break-in reported along Richmond Row.
• Approach and detention attempt: Constables Hednrick and Ryan intervene.
• Escalation: Rear naked choke applied to Hednrick.
• Shooting: Ryan fires within seconds.
• Post-incident: Special Investigations Unit probes; inquest follows years later.

This chronology, drawn from proceedings, aids understanding without speculation.

Expert Views on Recommendations

The 14 proposals cover de-escalation, training, and detention protocols. Tsui’s highlight on scenario-specific guidelines could standardise responses, reducing variability in high-pressure moments. Parties agreed on the need for evidence-based changes, ensuring realism tempers idealism.

Family’s Path to Closure

Daniel’s words captured the family’s odyssey: from shock to inquest, grappling with 80 seconds that reshaped lives. Their quest for meaning drives the process forward.

Jury’s Next Steps

Deliberations begin soon, with outcomes potentially reshaping London Police practices. Recommendations will stand as Bourassa’s legacy, urging safer interactions.

In reflecting on this case, the inquest reaffirms journalism’s role in holding processes accountable while humanising statistics. The tragedy unites calls for better outcomes, honouring Justin Bourassa’s memory through reform.