Key moments that followed the watershed moment when Anthony Griffin was shot

Thirty years ago, on Nov. 11, 1987, an unarmed, 19-year-old black man was fatally shot in the headby a Montreal police officer.

His name was Anthony Griffin.

His death was a watershed moment for police relations with the black community in Montreal.

It mobilizedthe communityto put pressure on authorities to answer serious questions about the shooting and examine the way theyrelated to Montreal's different ethnic communities.

Thatprocess, some would say, is ongoing.

Theseare a few key moments in that journey.

November 11, 1987

Around 6:30 a.m., police receive a call from a taxi driver that a passenger inNotre-Dame-de-Grcedid not payhis$27 fare. That passenger is Anthony Griffin. Police arrive at the scene, and after determining someone with the same name is wanted on other charges, the officers arrest him.

When they arrive at the police station, Griffin tries to flee. He is unarmed.Const. AllanGossetyells at him to stop and turn around, which he eventually does, butGossetshoots Griffin in the head. The young man is taken to the Jewish General Hospital, where he ispronounceddead around 11:45 a.m.

BothGossetand Montreal's chief of police say the gun went off by accident. Regardless,Gossetis suspended without pay.

November 20, 1987

AllanGossetis charged with manslaughter.

November21, 1987

More than 2,000 people attend a march in Montreal to protest against Griffin's shooting. Many expresstheir anger thatGossethas been charged with manslaughter instead of murder.

November 24, 1987

Quebec'shuman rights commission opens an inquiry into the relationship between police and ethnic communities, headed by lawyer JacquesBellemare.Bellemaresays there is clearly a sense of "malaise" between police and visibleminorities.

February15, 1988

Wearing a grey suit and blue tie,Gossetshows up to the Montreal courthouse for the beginning of his trial. The courtroom is packed as the prosecution's first witnesses testify.

February24, 1988

Gossetis found not guilty of manslaughter. Griffin's parentslauncha$1.6-million civil suit against the City of MontrealandGosset.

The family was ultimately awarded $25,000.

February 27, 1988

More than 700 people from across Montreal participatein a protest march, walking fromTrenholmeParkto Station 15 onMarietteAvenue,where Griffin was killed.

Montrealers protest following acquittal of police officer who fatally shot unarmed black man

7 years ago

Duration 1:37

Members of the black community take to the streets in protest, outraged by the acquittal of a Montreal police officer in the shooting death of Anthony Griffin.

July8, 1988

Montreal's police chief, RolandBourget, firesGosset, saying the decisionwas a consequence of his actions. There's beena lot of public pressure onBourgetto fire his officer, but he says his decision would have been the same regardless of that pressure.

August 1989

Gossetsuccessfully challenges his dismissal from the Montreal police service and is reintegrated, although he doesn't remain a police officer for long.

1991

The Quebec Court of Appeal orders a new trial forGosset, citing the trial judge's error in instructing the jury. In September 1993, the appeal court's rulingis upheld bythe Supreme Court of Canada.

April1994

Gossetis acquitted ofmanslaughterfor a second time.