Man shot by RCMP under court orders not to be in the community

By Nigel Maxwell, paNOW

A man who was shot this week by members of the RCMP at Montreal Lake Cree Nation (MLCN) and later died in hospital shouldn’t have been in the community in the first place, according to court records.

Dillon Bryce McDonald, 28, appeared in court on Dec. 8, and was granted bail on a number of conditions, including that he reside at his sister’s house at Stanley Mission, abide by a curfew, and not attend within five kilometres of the boundary of Montreal Lake, except for the purpose of travelling directly from Stanley Mission to Prince Albert, or except for court purposes.

On Sept. 25, McDonald was charged with having a sawed-off .22 rifle in his possession. With this charge were a number of other court-related breaches that dictated he was ordered not to possess any firearms, ammunition, or other weapons. He was also charged with breaching a court order to not consume any alcohol or drugs.

McDonald was scheduled to make his next court appearance in Montreal Lake on Feb. 3.

Around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, officers from the Waskesiu RCMP responded to a report of an armed man in a home at MLCN who had barricaded himself in after using the firearm to chase another individual out of the home.

Dillon McDonald leaves behind a young daughter. (Facebook/ Dillon McDonald)

Officers from the surrounding area immediately came to the residence and contained the scene. A video posted to social media recorded the events that followed. In the video, McDonald can be seen emerging from the back of the house, with his hands in the air, holding some kind of object.

“(Expletive) you …shoot me,” he yelled at the RCMP.

The officers on scene can then be heard repeatedly telling McDonald to put down the object. McDonald continues to curse at the officers and the next sound on the video are three gunshots, but it’s not clear if they came from the officers, McDonald or a combination of both.

After the shots, police can be heard telling McDonald to put the gun down and to put his hands up.

“We are here to help you … Dillon come down … Keep your hands in the air … We don’t want to hurt you … Do not touch that gun,” one officer can be heard saying.

According to a release from RCMP, officers performed life-saving measures on McDonald until local paramedics arrived. McDonald was then taken to Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert where he was pronounced dead at approximately 11 p.m.

When an incident results in death or serious injury, the RCMP Act — the legislation that governs the RCMP — requires that an investigation be conducted by an external agency. The Saskatchewan RCMP has requested the Saskatoon Police Service conduct an independent, external investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

The Saskatchewan RCMP has requested the Ministry of Justice appoint an independent investigation observer in accordance with Section 91.1 of the Saskatchewan Police Act. Dillon’s sister, Chantel McDonald, told paNOW the family is waiting for answers.

“We need answers so nothing like this happens to anyone else,” she said.

A vigil was held Thursday at the house where the shooting occurred.