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Sophie Lafond discusses the circumstances surrounding Regis Korchinski-Paquet's death, as she fell from her balcony in the presence of police. Immediately after the tragedy, family members accused officers of pushing the 29-year-old from the 24th floor of her apartment building. The case has fuelled Black Lives Matter demonstrations across Canada.
On May 27, 2020, police were called to the apartment of Toronto-born Regis Korchinski-Paquet: a 29 year old Afro-Indigenous woman. What occurred in this apartment has not been confirmed, however many family members are upset, believing the woman was pushed from her 24th floor balcony. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement in America, Canadians are beginning to cause an uproar over Korchinski-Paquet’s death.
Throughout May the 27th, three calls were made to police, in which concerns regarding domestic incidents were expressed. All of these were said to involve weapons. Korchinski-Paquet’s mother made a call to the police, asking for help, as her daughter was having a “mental health crisis.” Due to the risk of violence, a Mental Health Crisis Intervention Team was not allowed to be dispatched. Upon arrival, police were greeted at the entrance to the apartment to talk with Korchinski-Paquet who soon asked to use the washroom. Police allowed her, and followed her into the unit. What happened next is still unclear. There have been many witness accounts, and the investigation is still ongoing.
Police first released a statement saying Korchinski-Paquet fell from her balcony. However, her mother then spoke to the public saying she had been shoved from the balcony. The family’s lawyer then declared that her mother had not actually witnessed the event and was retracting her statement. In a statement to police, Korchinski-Paquet’s mother said she heard a commotion in her daughter’s apartment from a neighbouring apartment before her daughter called “Mom, help!” three times. After the release of her mother’s statement and more investigation, an anonymous source claimed Korchinski-Paquet fell while trying to scale between her balcony and a neighbouring balcony.
Since the incident, video footage from security cameras was reviewed and six officers from the scene were interviewed. The family was scheduled to be interviewed by police later this week, but they have refused to go through with it at this time. Toronto Chief of Police Mark Saunders ordered the investigation be "fast-tracked", in order to seek justice for the Korchinski-Paquet family, and finally conclude the circumstances around her death. The family lawyer has criticised the handling of the case, suggesting that the authorities have attempted to "shape the narrative" around Korchinski-Paquet's death. As a result, the public is pushing for body cameras to be worn by all members of the police.
Inspired by the events in the United States, Canadians across the country have begun to organize protests and rallies in honour of Black Lives Matter. Additionally, because she was also indigenous, some people are using the 29-year-old’s death to push the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement across Canada.
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