By Canadian Press

Sergeant says slain Quebec teenager holding air pistol was perceived as threat

Jun 14, 2022 | 11:38 AM

SHERBROOKE, Que. — A Quebec provincial police sergeant told a coroner’s inquest today that he became uncomfortable as an armed 17-year-old advanced toward officers in the early morning of July 25, 2018.

Sgt. Wallace McGovern is testifying at the inquiry into the police killing of 17-year-old Riley Fairholm, who was shot in the head in the parking lot of an abandoned restaurant in Lac-Brome, Que., about an hour southeast of Montreal. Fairholm had called 911 himself.

McGovern says he asked the teenager in English several times to drop a weapon, which police discovered later was an air pistol.

He says Fairholm was yelling and waving the weapon around as he advanced erratically toward the half-dozen officers who responded to the emergency call.

McGovern says he anticipated three outcomes: the young man would drop the weapon, Fairholm would fire on police, or police would end the threat.