TPR received the following statement and photo from the family of 43-year-old Erixon Kabera who was shot and killed by a Hamilton Police officer in an incident that occurred at his home inside the 1964 Main Street West apartments on Saturday, November 9, 2024.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has invoked its mandate and is investigating.
The SIU’s initial statement included erroneous information claiming that Kabera had engaged in an “exchange of gunfire” with Hamilton Police officers. The next day, the SIU stated, “It does not appear that the man [Kabera] discharged a firearm.”
At the time of this publication, the SIU has not explained how it provided the erroneous information.
Update: at 5:49 p.m., the SIU stated by email, “SIU investigators collected a replica firearm from the scene.”
Two Hamilton Police officers are subject officials in the investigation. Two others are witness officials.
One of the subject officers was wounded during the incident, he was treated and released from hospital.
The SIU has not provided any information regarding how the officer was wounded or the extent of their injuries.
FAMILY STATEMENT
It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we, the family of Erixon Kabera, announce his tragic and untimely passing. Erixon dedicated his life to his family, faith, and community, building a reputation as a compassionate, gentle, and honorable man.
We are devastated for this unspeakable loss of a man who was a giant in his own right, the kindest soul we’ve ever known and the pillar of our family and community. With his infectious smile and belly laugh, he was so full of life and had so much to live for.
Erixon was a devoted father to his three sons: Garry Sean, Terry, and Zack. Erixon’s children were his world. He loved them deeply, spending as much time as possible with them, taking them everywhere, and being actively involved in their lives. Known for his warm heart and kindness, he was a true family man, a friend to many, and a deeply caring individual who left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered. His faith guided him, and his commitment to those around him was unwavering.
Over the past 20 years in Canada, Erixon worked tirelessly to support his family, most recently as a Resource Officer with the Canada Revenue Agency where his ability to speak multiple languages served him well in customer service roles. Erixon was deeply involved in the Rwandan community, serving as vice president of the Rwandan Community Abroad in Toronto and as an advisor for the Rwandan Canadian Healing Center. He contributed to countless projects aimed at empowering, educating, and uplifting the community he cherished.
We are devastated by the circumstances of Erixon’s death, which occurred inside his apartment, a place where he had been spending the day resting. Even more heartbreaking to us is the police’s portrayal of these tragic events that took the life of our own family member. Police initially described the situation as “an exchange of gunfire,” insinuating that Erixon himself had a firearm and engaged the officers.
We, his family and close friends, found this explanation deeply troubling. Erixon was not known to possess a gun, nor did he have a history of condoning or engaging in any type of violence. He was a peaceful man who valued harmony and community, making this claim profoundly difficult to reconcile with the person we knew and loved.
More than 24 hours after that disconcerting initial report, the SIU released an update clearly indicating there was no gunfire exchange, and that it was indeed two responding officers who shot Erixon and inflicted fatal wounds on his body. We find that reversal of crucial facts, a full day after telling the entire world otherwise and painting an image of violence for our very own, to be deeply outrageous and unnerving.
As we grieve this senseless loss, we respectfully ask for transparency and accountability from the authorities. Whether it’s police body cam footage, surveillance videos from the building or any other pieces of evidence, we want to know details of the altercation so that we can understand the truth of what happened in Erixon’s final moments.
Our family deserves answers, clarity and peace, and we stand firm in our belief that Erixon was not armed, nor would he act in a way that would justify this result.
Erixon Kabera was a remarkable man whose life was dedicated to love, service, and compassion. We miss him deeply, and we seek only the truth to honor his memory.
Signed,
The Family of Erixon Kabera
Production Details v. 1.0.1 Published: November 11, 2024 Last updated: November 11, 2024 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version v. 1.0.1 wording change to clarify the nature of the error in the initial SIU statement v. 1.1.0 added SIU statement
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