The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a
man who died following an altercation with police in Port Hardy late Wednesday morning.
Regional Coroner Matthew Brown says the man was 24 year old James Reginald Butters, also known as James Hayward, a resident of Port McNeil.
An online petition campaign has been launched by Hayward’s family, demanding justice.
A few comments on the petition campaign wondered why a taser wasn’t used by police.
The shooting occurred after RCMP responded to reports of a man allegedly threatening security staff at a staging area for forest firefighting crews, witnesses say the man was armed with a knife.
The Independent Investigations Office continues their investigation of the shooting, including interviews with several RCMP officers.
