Probe into RCMP-involved shooting death of mom and son may take 18 months

How did a 77-year-old mother and her son end up dead after shots were fired in broad daylight outside their village home?

The truth may not be revealed until Christmas, 2017.

That's because the independent civilian-led police watchdog,the Independent Investigation Office, is dealing with a staggering number of cases andnow takes up to18 months to complete an investigation.

The prospect of more than a year of official silence hasoutragedfamily and friends of Shirley Williams, 77, and her son,Jovan Williams, 39.

Mother and sonwere shot deadduring anRCMPstand-off at their home in Granisle, B.C.

."We are left just totally in the dark," said LakeBabineNation ChiefWilfAdams, a community leader who recently met with theIIO'slead investigator. "No information. No communication."

The IIO blames the long wait, in part, onthe largenumber of cases of police-involved serious injuryor death.

"Thechallenge we have with the timeliness of our investigations, keep in mind that we have approximately 57 open cases as of today," said MartenYoussef, IIO'smanager of strategic communications.

"In one year, we had 20 officer-involvedfatalities. This [Shirley and Jovan Williams case]is our first double fatality. It's an incredible strain on our resources."

Probe may take 18 months

"We are currently closing cases in approximately 14 to 18 months," said Youssef, who agreesit isalong timeto wait. "It is. It is. We completely understand the frustration the family and the community would have.This is the reality we have to operate with at this time."

The IIO is an independent, civilian body funded by B.C.'s Ministry of Justice. It's charged with investigatingofficer-related incidents of death or serious harm in order to determine whether or not an officer may have committed an offence.

The IIO has yet to reveal if RCMP officers fired the fatal shots in this case. And it'sreleased virtually no information about how an alleged dispute between village neighbours escalated into an RCMP stand-off that left mother and sondead.

"It is not possibleto provide little bits of information here or there, as our investigation continues," saidYoussef."It is not possible for the IIO to provide a conclusive and independent overview until our investigation is complete."

Community leaders agree a thorough investigation is required. But they can't believe official silence is the best way forward.

Chief Adams says these shooting deaths are even worse than a more widely-known tragedy in his community in2014. He's thinking back to theBabinemill explosionthat killed two and left 19 badly injured.

"When the mill exploded in Burns Lake, at least there was some communication flow," he said. "We knew generally what was happening. Here, we knew that the young man and his mother were shot. That's where it stops.

"There is absolutely no information going out," said Adams."Absolutely nothing. All they told me is,' It's under investigation."

'I just want answers'

Last week, pallbearers from the CheslattaCarrierand Lake BabineFirst Nations and a United Steelworkers union leader carriedShirley and Jovan Williams's simple woodencoffins into a crowded Catholic church. Mourners at the double funeral remembered them as beloved, generous, and gentle.

Kris Peters worked withJovanWilliams for six years at the LakeBabineband office."He was a really kind, gentle man. I just don't understand why it happened to such a nice guy," she said.

"I just want answers why this has happened,," said Peters. "I think the cops went overboard."

"It's important we get the truth out," said Chief Adams.

'We don't know if a crime was committed or not'

Lengthy delays are increasingly common across the province, said Josh Patterson, executive director of the
B.C. Civil Liberties Association "It's unfortunate. It's difficult for communities, for familiesand also for police officers who are under suspicion for a long period of time."

In the meantime, there's no police accountability, said Patterson.

"The RCMP carries on.We don't know if a mistake was made, if a crime was committed by officers,or not," he said.

"We certainly have to question why lethal force had to be used that day in Granisle," Patterson said. "The public do need to have some idea of what went on. It's not a good answerto say, 'nobody's going to say anything for two years until we've figured out every last detail.'"