Chantel Moore's mother sues Edmundston police officer who shot her Indigenous daughter - Action News
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New Brunswick

Chantel Moore's mother sues Edmundston police officer who shot her Indigenous daughter

The mother of Chantel Moore is suing the police officer who fatally shot the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation woman during a wellness check.

Martha Martin's statement of claim calls actions of officer and city 'reckless, cavalier'

Martha Martin, mother of Chantel Moore, alleges her daughter died because of negligence by the City of Edmundson and police officer Jeremy Son. (Jennifer Sweet/CBC)

The mother of Chantel Moore is suing the police officer who fatally shot the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation woman during a wellness check.

Chantel Moore, 26, was shot and killed by Edmundston Const. Jeremy Son on June 4, 2020, when he was dispatched to her apartment to check on her well-being.Moore came toward Son with a knife on the balcony of the apartment, and he fired four shots, which he's said were in self-defence.

Moore's mother, Martha Martin, filed a statement of claimThursday on behalf of herself, Moore's seven-year-old daughter, Gracie,and Moore's estate. The City of Edmundston, Son's employer, is also named in the suit.

The statement of claim alleges the city failed to adequately train its officers to safely respond to wellness checks, especially to ones where an Indigenous person is involved.

It alleges Son neglected his duties and "grossly demonstrated significant errors in judgment and analysis throughout the wellness check, leading to the death of the late Chantel Moore."

Chantel Moore, 26, grew up on Vancouver Island, but left to live in New Brunswick, where she joined her mother and daughter Gracie. The CBC has permission from Moore's family to use the photos included in this story. (Chantel Moore/Facebook)

The lawsuit claims negligence and asks for general damages for grief, suffering and the loss of companionship. Martinalso wants the courtsto grant punitive damages to compensate for Moore's death "as a result of the reckless, cavalier and needless actions of the defendants," among other damages.

None of the allegations in the statement of claim have been tested in court.

In the statement of claim, Martin lays outdevelopmentson June 4 to support her claim.

Son and another officer were sent to check on Moore, the claim says. When the officers arrived, Moore was asleep, and answered the door "several minutes," after, it says.

"Upon Moore opening the door, there was an altercation which resulted in the Defendant Son discharging his firearm several times and fatally shooting Moore."

The claim alleges the negligence by the city included not providing adequate training to police officers when it comes to wellness checks, high risk proceedings, procedures involving Indigenous people, the use of a Taser and proper use of force.

It alleged the city also did not supervise and evaluate Son to ensure his competence.

Son's alleged negligence includes use of excessive force "given the circumstances of the moment," not having a plan for wellness checks, and directing a police operation without ensuring life and safety were protected.

It also alleges Son should have had a Taser, but did not, which led to Moore being fatally shot.

No criminal charges

The Public Prosecutions Service of New Brunswick previously said it would not lay criminal charges against Son becausethe evidence shows no "reasonable prospect of conviction."

Prosecutors found Son "did believe, on reasonable grounds, that force or a threat of force was being used against him by Ms. Moore," that day.

Const. Jeremy Son fatally shot Chantel Moore while he was performing a wellness check. The Public Prosecutions Service of New Brunswick said Son will not face criminal charges because prosecutors did not find a reasonable chances of conviction. (Jennifer Sweet/CBC)

The lawsuit came as a coroner's inquest was taking place into what happened on June 4. An inquest is a process that does not lay blame but attempts to prevent a similar death from happening in the future.

On Tuesday, Martin's lawyer, T.J. Burke, announced that he would be filingthe suit, which he said was separate from the inquest.