Group plans Mississauga vigil for man shot by police
Published January 7, 2021 at 5:34 pm
A vigil for a man who was killed in a police-involved shooting last year is scheduled to take place in Mississauga on Saturday.
The Malton People’s Movement, which has held several protests at Peel Regional Police stations, recently announced that it will be hosting a vigil for Jamal Francique, a 28-year-old Mississauga man who was shot during an interaction with police officers last January.
“[We’re] calling on all our community members and supporters to join us this Saturday at 2 PM to stand in solidarity with the family of Jamal Francique and to honour and commemorate his life,” the group wrote on social media.
“It’s been one year since Jamal’s life was tragically taken by a PRP officer. Although the case investigation is ongoing, we have been actively working with community members to bring light to his name and sharing his story. Our goal is for Jamal to get the justice he deserves.”
Earlier this year, the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) announced that it’s continuing its investigation into the shooting.
According to the SIU, Francique died on the evening of Jan. 7, 2020, when Peel police officers arrived in the Southampton Drive and Aquinas Avenue area to make an arrest. The SIU says that police located Francique in a vehicle at which an officer fired multiple shots.
Francique later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
“While the fieldwork has been substantially completed, the investigation remains open pending receipt of additional information,” said the SIU.
As of July 24, 2020, investigators have interviewed the officer who fired the shots and eight witness officers from the PRP, as well as one civilian witness. No video footage of the incident was available, according to the SIU. The police watchdog also said it’s waiting for a report regarding the post-mortem examination conducted on Jan. 11, 2020, as well as the results of toxicological analysis.
In the months following Francique’s death, advocacy groups have demanded justice in various ways including a Change.org petition and a fundraiser to support Francique’s family.
A previous vigil for Francique was held at Celebration Square on June 13.
The group said mourners can meet at the Winston Churchill Blvd. and Eglinton Ave. W. intersection and walk to the site where the Jan. 9 vigil is taking place.
Mourners are asked to wear masks at the vigil.
The SIU investigation into the shooting is still ongoing.
With files from Jonah Shinuda
Cover photo courtesy of change.org
INsauga's Editorial Standards and Policies