No charges for police in Clarendon shooting, DPCP rules
Tashi Farmilo
Local Journalism Initiative
CLARENDON – The Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) announced no criminal charges will be filed against the police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Christopher Watson in Clarendon on June 5, 2023. The decision follows an investigation by the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) and the DPCP’s review of the evidence.
The incident began when Watson’s mother called 911, reporting that her son, who was living on her property, had become aggressive and violent toward her and her partner. Two officers from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) responded and arrived at the scene shortly after 11 am. The mother informed the officers that her son, whom she believed to be unarmed, was currently inside a shed in the backyard.
As the officers approached the shed, one of them identified himself as a police officer and asked Watson to come out to talk. However, as the officer moved closer, Watson suddenly opened the shed door and pointed a long gun directly at the officer. In response, the officer fired several shots, striking Watson, who fell back into the shed. The officers lost sight of him and instructed the couple to return to the house for their safety.
Despite multiple attempts to communicate with Watson, there was no response. About 20 minutes later, a tactical operation was launched to enter the shed safely. After efforts to establish contact failed, a drone was deployed inside, revealing Watson lying on the ground, unresponsive. Emergency resuscitation efforts were attempted but were unsuccessful, and his death was confirmed at the scene.
Before reaching its decision, the DPCP relied on the BEI investigation, launched immediately after the incident on the same day. The BEI, tasked with examining situations where a person is killed or seriously injured during a police intervention or while in police custody, gathered evidence and assessed the events leading up to and during the fatal encounter.
The DPCP’s decision not to lay charges is based on Sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Criminal Code, which protect peace officers who use force in the execution of their duties, provided the force is reasonable and necessary under the circumstances. The analysis concluded the officer’s actions were justified given the presence of a firearm, the immediate threat to the officers and civilians, and the need to protect lives.
The DPCP emphasized police officers are often required to make quick decisions in
high-stress situations, and their actions cannot be judged against a standard of perfection. Both the Sûreté du Québec and BEI declined to comment on the decision.
