A coroner has ordered an inquest into the shooting death of a man in Exeter by two police officers in 2019.
Dr. Elizabeth Urbantke, Regional Supervising Coroner, West Region, London Office, has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Wade Vander Wal.
Vander Wal was 44-years-old when he was fatally shot by a pair of OPP officers back on December 3, 2019. At that time, the Special Investigations Unit stated that there was no basis for charges against two OPP officers involved.
The incident occurred after Vander Wal allegedly refused to allow local firefighters into his home to extinguish a kitchen fire. It was claimed that Vander Wal brandished an axe at the emergency crews and blocked the doorway. Officers battered down the door, and when they entered, Vander Wal is alleged to have approached the officers with the axe, at which point the officers opened fire and killed him.
Following the incident, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s death.
Now, an inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Vander Wal’s death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.
The provincial government has stated that details regarding the date and location will be provided at a later date when the information becomes available.
