Family of Edmonton man shot by police releases additional video of incident, demands answers

The family of an Edmonton begetter who was changeable and killed by a constabulary serviceman past period has released caller video of nan fatal encounter, which they opportunity raises much questions astir nan deadly usage of force.

“My full extremity is conscionable to clear my brother’s name,” said Dini Arkangelo, nan relative of 28-year-old Mathios (Matt) Arkangelo, who was shot successful a northeast Edmonton thoroughfare connected June 29.

Dini Arkangelo joined his mother and different family members connected Tuesday to speak to nan media astir nan questions they want answered.

The province’s constabulary watchdog — nan Alberta Serious Incident Response squad — is investigating nan actions of constabulary successful relationship pinch nan decease that occurred successful nan Fraser neighbourhood.

According to ASIRT, nan business began erstwhile personification called 911 to study a single-vehicle rollover connected Anthony Henday Drive successful nan area of 153rd Avenue. The caller reported that nan driver near nan conveyance connected foot. Police past began canvassing nan surrounding area and, astatine 9:11 p.m., an Edmonton Police Service chopper was asked to alert complete nan area.

At 9:21 p.m., ASIRT said an serviceman reported having spotted personification who fresh nan driver’s description.

According to ASIRT, nan man walked successful nan guidance of nan constabulary SUV arsenic it was approaching pinch its lights on. The serviceman stopped and sewage retired of nan SUV.

ASIRT said nan man connected nan thoroughfare lifted his arms to his sides while facing nan officer, who had his weapon drawn, and nan 2 engaged verbally pinch 1 another. The taxable serviceman fired his weapon astatine nan man, who was deed and dropped to nan ground.

Earlier this month, nan EPS said it would not supply further accusation astir what happened because of nan ASIRT probe. In consequence to a caller petition for remark from Global News connected Tuesday, nan EPS said it “acknowledges nan calamity of this incident and recognizes nan effect it has had connected nan victim’s family, nan broader organization and attending first responders.”

“While nan EPS would for illustration to stock much accusation pinch nan nationalist astir our constabulary consequence connected June 29, 2024, we person nary prime but to respect nan Alberta Serious Incident Response Team’s process,” a constabulary spokesperson wrote successful an email. “Transparency is important successful fostering and maintaining respect for nan management of justness astatine each levels, but transparency excessively early tin consequence successful nan irreparable tainting of an investigation, which could undermine nan result for nan victim’s family and nan EPS.

“While we cannot remark connected nan constituent of this incident astatine this time, we are assured that ASIRT will beryllium conducting a thorough and independent investigation which nan EPS will afloat co-operate with. We spot that those who advocator for effective oversight for policing will besides respect nan strategy and process group up to do so.”

Police said nan serviceman who changeable Arkangelo is presently connected leave, adding that is “standard process pursuing a captious incident” and “part of nan EPS’ reintegration programme earlier a return to progressive duty.”

The EPS said it will not beryllium releasing nan officer’s name.

Dini Arkangelo said aft his brother’s death, he himself canvassed nan area wherever nan shooting happened to spot if he could get video of nan incident.

“What triggers maine is erstwhile I spell connected societal media and spot group saying each this atrocious stuff, … (like), ‘He deserves it,'” he said, adding that he would for illustration nan serviceman who changeable his relative to not beryllium allowed to patrol nan streets unless he is cleared of wrongdoing. “This is really, really painful. … It’s conscionable confusing.”

Video provided to media outlets by Dini Arkangelo amounts to a 25-minute compilation of location information video collected from nan area wherever Mathios Arkangelo was stepping astir aft nan crash. It is edited to show nan videos successful chronological order.

It shows Mathios Arkangelo speaking to immoderate children connected a driveway arsenic he walks past. Later he is seen sitting by a thoroughfare motion and past making a telephone telephone while looking astatine nan thoroughfare sign.

His family says it was astatine this clip that he made telephone calls to his mother and to his common-law wife.

One information camera video suggests it was astir 9:11 p.m. erstwhile a constabulary SUV pulled up adjacent nan driveway wherever Mathios Arkangelo had spoken to nan children. The constabulary portion is seen rolling further ahead.

Another signaling indicates it was astir 9:22 p.m. erstwhile Mathios Arkangelo put his hands up arsenic a constabulary serviceman sewage retired of nan SUV and pointed his gun. Mathios Arkangelo pulled thing retired of his pocket, held it successful his manus and extended his arms wide. He past allowed nan point to dangle successful his hand.

A 3rd video indicates it was 9:23 p.m. erstwhile Mathios Arkangelo took a mates of steps toward nan serviceman earlier stopping. This happened again later, and past a 3rd time, astatine which constituent he was seen flinching earlier taking a measurement guardant while saying thing to nan serviceman and past lying down successful nan street. Timestamps successful nan videos included successful nan compilation propose Mathios Arkangelo was lying bleeding successful nan thoroughfare for 3 minutes until 3 officers attack him, 2 pinch their guns drawn. They past turned him complete and handcuffed him. Video suggests it was not until 9:32 p.m. that paramedics arrived astatine nan scene.

Defence lawyer Tom Engel, who is representing Mathios Arkangelo’s family arsenic they activity much answers astir what happened, says he believes nan video shows nan “boring” leadup to nan fatal brushwood and that a man was “left to dice connected nan pavement without immoderate first assistance help.”

Engel believes constabulary should merchandise video they person of nan incident truthful that Edmontonians tin dress up their ain minds astir what happened aft seeing each nan images available.

Dini Arkangelo says he believes his relative was attempting to surrender to constabulary aft nan clang and that nan point his relative pulled retired of his pouch was a ineligible pocketknife that he ever had connected him to trim sod aliases wires erstwhile he was landscaping.

Trending Now

He adds that he is grateful for each nan members of nan organization who had travel guardant pinch video aliases accusation astir what happened, moreover though he said those conversations led to him proceeding much concerns astir actions taken by immoderate constabulary officers successful Canada.

“I sewage dragged into this world that I didn’t cognize existed,” Dini Arkangelo. “It’s awful.”

Anna Odo, Mathios Arkangelo’s mother, besides said to nan media connected Tuesday and said she “did not expect this to happen” and said astir really she came to Canada from South Sudan via Egypt successful hunt of a amended life for her family.

“I near my state for a amended life. This is simply a beautiful country,” she said. “I’ve go a bully national pinch my kids, … but now I americium backmost to Level 1.”

Odo said she shared a adjacent enslaved pinch Mathios and that he ever told her really overmuch he admired her raising children arsenic a azygous mother. She said he called her connected nan nighttime he died and simply said, ‘Momma, I emotion you. I’ve sewage to go.'”

“‘Go where?'” she recalled asking.

“I knew thing was wrong,” Odo said, adding she has questions astir why constabulary would sprout a man who had his hands up.

She said she and her family are besides wondering why it was days until they were allowed to position nan body. They opportunity they only sewage to spot Mathios erstwhile he was put successful a ceremonial home.

“I want to spot justness for my son.”

Engel says he believes nan investigation could person been aided if constabulary had each officers deterioration assemblage cameras and if dash cams were installed successful each EPS vehicles. He besides hopes nan constabulary watchdog is capable to complete its investigation successful a timely mode arsenic nan hold will beryllium difficult for some nan serviceman who fired his weapon and for Mathios Arkangelo’s family.

“It’s conscionable an agonizing delay,” he said. “And it’s not successful nan public’s interest.”

Odo says since nan shooting she has trouble sleeping and becomes anxious erstwhile she sees constabulary vehicles.

Dini Arkangelo said his relative was “always trying to beryllium amended for his son.”

“We grew up pinch a azygous mom, ne'er had a dada there, truthful our extremity was to beryllium location for our kids. … (Now) he’s not going to beryllium there, truthful nan rhythm continues.”

–With files from Karen Bartko, Global News