LLOYDMINSTER - A public inquest will be held into the death of Trent Byron Angus of Onion Lake who was shot and killed by RCMP, Ariane Whiting, senior media relations consultant for the Government of Saskatchewan told SASKTODAY.ca in an email Tuesday. The timeline for the inquest is yet to be determined, she said.
Trent Angus was shot and killed by RCMP on Feb. 27, 2022, during a raid on an industrial building in Waseca, which is approximately 42 kilometres east of Lloydminster.
The Saskatoon Police Service conducted an independent, external investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, as required by the RCMP Act. SPS sent their report to the province. The Coroner’s Service has received all final reports, said Whiting.
Angus was shot and killed by RCMP after they raided a commercial building in Waseca just before midnight Feb. 26, 2022. According to the RCMP, the Battlefords RCMP Gang Task Force had executed the search warrant at the industrial property along Highway 16 on the Yellowhead following a four-month investigation into drug and weapons trafficking in west-central Saskatchewan. Police had said that cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms were being trafficked in and around North Battleford.
The Saskatchewan RCMP Critical Incident Response Team was deployed to assist with the search warrant due to significant risk to the public and police safety, said the RCMP.
During the raid, two men and one woman exited the commercial building but a fourth person, Trent Angus, stayed inside and wouldn’t comply with police commands, according to the RCMP.
When Angus exited the building, he still wouldn’t comply with police commands so they had used non-lethal methods to get him to comply. Officers, however, said they saw him display a firearm and gunfire was exchanged. An RCMP officer received a non-life-threatening injury during the incident.
At the time of his death, Trent Angus was wanted by Cut Knife RCMP for a firearms complaint on Little Pine First Nation on Nov. 28, 2021. Police had issued a warrant for his arrest and charged him with discharging a firearm, pointing a firearm, possession of a firearm knowing unauthorized, and failing to comply with a release order.
Investigation looked into contact with family
The SPS investigation looked into the shooting, as well as into notification of next of kin and utilization of victim services.
In February 2022, Trent Angus’ older sister Lori-Ann Angus told SASKTODAY.ca that added distress was placed on the family by how they perceive they were treated by police.
“They didn’t even notify the family. My mom had to call.”
Trent Angus always working on vehicles at his shop
Lori-Ann Angus said Trent Angus’ passion was working on vehicles at his shop in Waseca.
“He was always working on vehicles at the shop there. That's what he liked doing, working on vehicles and fixing vehicles. And that's where he was that night when they went there and snuck up on him.”
Lori-Ann Angus remembers her brother as "a really good father to his four children. He had a fifth baby on the way at the time of his death.
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