Video shows Steven Rigby did not point gun at Saskatoon police, family says

• The latest:Police officer friend tried to calm Steven Rigby over phone before fatal shot

When Carey Rigby-Wilcox first heard herson, Steven, had died in a police-involved shooting, she feared he hadacted out in a threatening way, even though deep down she felt her son would never hurt police.

Now, more than two years after his death, Rigby-Wilcox has watched two police videos of her mentally ill son's shooting and says she feels relieved and appalled.

While Steven did firehis gun, "to me,thegun is vertically in the air. It's not pointing at anyone," Rigby-Wilcox said. "I don't know where the threat was at that particular moment.

"I need to hear for myself how they felt threatened from my little boy."

Rigby-Wilcox's recap of the videos is the first new account of the Dec. 22, 2018, shooting since the Saskatoon Police Serviceissued anews releaseshortly after the incident.

It also comes on the cusp of a week-long coroner's inquest into Rigby's death beginningin Saskatoon on Monday.

"The Saskatoon Police Service will be participating in the inquestand will not be able to provide comment until after those proceedings are complete," the police service said Saturday.

CBC News has also reached out for comment to the union representinglocal officers.

According to the original police release about the shooting, Rigbyhad a handgun andwas threatening to harm himself and officers.

"[He] refused to comply with officer commands and fired his gun," the statement read. "Officers perceived a threat and engaged."

Rigby, 27, died from his wounds in hospital.

Few other details were provided in a news conference with police Chief Troy Cooper.

The police service's ownmajor crimes unit investigated the shooting.An independent observer, typically a former police officer, has beentapped by the province to oversee the police investigation.

Rigbyhad friends on force, mom says

Rigby-Wilcox says herfamily wasleft with a host of questions for the next two and a half years, including whether Rigbypointed his weapon or shot at officers he had recently threatened to commit suicide by cop, according to the medical records obtained by his mother and whether hepointed his gun on himself.

Rigby-Wilcox says she was interviewed by police for hours after the shooting, but was only told no officers had beenhurt.

"I said, 'OK, good, because Steven wouldn't want that to happen.'"

Rigbyhad friends on the police force, she said.

Melanie West, Rigby's younger sister,says her brother knew how to use a gun safely.

"He also had the biggest heart," she said."So I absolutely do not believe he would have ever fired towarda police officer."

'I want to hear their reasoning'

CBC News has not seen the videos, but has interviewed Rigby-Wilcox about her family'sviewingof them.

The videos were provided to her lawyer, Brian Pfefferle, to help the family prepare for the public inquest, where the video footage is expected to be played, Pfefferle says.

One video showsa clearer view of the shooting than the other, he says.

"We saw that Steven fired shots into the air just prior to being shot by police," Rigby-Wilcox said in a statement sent by Pfefferle. "We were relieved to see that the video never showed him shooting in the direction of police or attempting to do so. It was obvious to us he only wanted to hurt himself as he shot directly into the sky."

Rigby was fired onby several officers, though the police files shared with Pfefferlesuggestonly two officersstruck Rigby, she said.

All of those officers are currentlyon the witness list for the inquest.

"I want to hear their reasoning behind why they feltSteven was a threat," she said.

Inquests are not criminal trials and are billed as fact-finding missions. They typically happenafter Saskatchewan Crown prosecutors have determined there was no criminalwrongdoing on the part of officers.

After hearing from all witnesses, the six inquest jurors willchoose from one of five categories to determine Rigby's manner of death: homicide, suicide, accident, natural causes or"undetermined."

They will also be asked to recommend how deaths such as Rigby's can be prevented in the future.

Foremost among the questions Rigby-Wilcox still has is whether less-lethal options, including Tasers, beanbag shotguns, rubber bulletsor police dogswere available to officers that night.

"There's so many opportunities that they could have handled this different," she said after viewing the video."He's intoxicated. He's falling-down drunk.He's trying to get up.He's wearing his business shoes. It's slippery. It's icy out.

"One [bean]bag to his leg would have shot him to the ground."

Many vehicles at scene

Rigby-Wilcox and her partner Richard were down the roadfrom the police scene that night, but didnot have a view of Rigbyand the officers,she said.

Steven had spoken of suicide-by-cop to the family and they were tracking his phone, she recalls.

They also called 911, adecision Rigby-Wilcoxhas saidshe made to help her son but that she now regrets.

"Rich said, 'If any cops pull him over, he's going to shoot in the air but he won't hurt anybody. He's going to do suicide-by-cop," she said. "Rich repeated that, and I repeated thatto 911."

During his news conference, Cooper said Rigby had been in contact with several people by phone, including the police service's crisis negotiation team.

Chris Rhodes, a member of that unit and the president of the union representing Saskatoon police officers is among thewitnesses expected to testify during the inquest.

According to the police release, the shooting happened at about 9:20 p.m. CST, long after sunset.

"They had so many lights," Rigby-Wilcox said of the numerouspolice vehicles at the scene.

Saskatoon police said they had been notified just before 8:00 p.m. CST that Warman RCMP were responding to a distressed Rigby.

What role the RCMP played in the ensuing confrontation, if any, remains unclear.

Inquest details

The inquest begins on Monday at the Saskatoon Inn and Conference Centre with jury selection at 10 a.m.

Approximately 17 witnesses are currently scheduled to testify. The roster includes:

• Several police officers, including former Saskatoon corporal Nathan Lynchuk. Lynchuk said he recently left the force over differences about COVID-19 public health protocols.
• Shelly Martin, a friend of Rigby'swho once accompanied him to the hospital.
• Dr. Jason Wagner, the doctor who committed Rigby to a mental health facility three days before his death.
• Dr. Monika Hooper, the doctor who discharged Rigbytwo days before his deathafter he appeared "calm, organized and coherent" anddeclined to stay voluntarily, according to medical records obtained by Rigby's mother.

The family hadhoped Rigby's months-long struggle with mental illness prior to the shooting would also be examined during the inquest.

Pfefferle and lawyers for othergroups will be able to question each witness, as will the jury.

Scott Spencer the defence lawyer known for successfully representingGerald Stanley, the man acquitted of second-degree murder in the death of Colten Boushie will represent the Saskatchewan Health Authority. The authorityhas been criticized by Rigby's family over their treatment of his mental-health issues.

The Saskatoon Police Service will have its own lawyer, too.

While open to the public, the event will be limited to 150 attendees due tothe rules ofPhase 2 of Saskatchewan's reopening plan.

If you're experiencing suicidal thoughts or having a mental health crisis, help is available.

For an emergency or crisis situation, call 911.

You can also contact the Saskatchewan suicide prevention line toll-free, 24/7 by calling 1-833-456-4566, texting 45645, orchatting online.

You can contact theRegina mobile crisis services suicide line at 306-525-5333 or Saskatoon mobile crisis line at 306-933-6200.

You can also text CONNECT to 686868 and get immediate support from a crisis responder through the Crisis Text Line, powered by Kids Help Phone.

Kids Help Phone can also be reached at1-800-668-6868, or you can access live chat counselling atwww.kidshelpphone.ca.