Afolabi Stephen Opaso dies in fatal Winnipeg shooting
Afolabi Stephen Opaso dies in fatal Winnipeg shooting
Fatal Winnipeg shooting death of Afolabi Stephen Opaso – Obituary
A 19-year-old international student, Afolabi Stephen Opaso, was fatally shot by Winnipeg police on New Year’s Eve, according to his family’s lawyer, Jean-René-Dominique Kwilu. Opaso, originally from Nigeria, was studying at the University of Manitoba.
The incident, which occurred on December 31st at around 2:20 p.m., was reported to the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) shortly after. Police were called to an apartment on University Crescent due to reports of a man acting erratically. Upon arrival, two officers found three individuals inside the apartment. Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth stated that one of the individuals, Opaso, was armed with two knives. During the confrontation, one officer discharged their weapon, striking Opaso.
Opaso was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries. The other two people present in the apartment were unharmed.
Lawyer Kwilu, representing Opaso’s family, mentioned that witnesses described Opaso as experiencing a mental health crisis at the time. One of the individuals in the apartment had called 911, stressing that it was a mental health issue and that Opaso was not a threat, but simply needed assistance.
Kwilu further noted that there is no evidence suggesting Opaso attacked the police. He added that the family, who resides outside of Winnipeg, is devastated by the incident. “They sent their son here for an education, and now they must bring him home in a coffin,” Kwilu said.
The family has raised concerns about the police response, questioning why a call for mental health assistance ended in a fatal shooting. Kwilu pointed out that the situation should have triggered the Alternative Response to Citizens in Crisis (ARCC) program. However, Winnipeg police informed CTV News that the criteria for ARCC were not met because the officers could not guarantee the safety of the situation.
The IIU is currently investigating the incident and is seeking information from the public. It also announced plans to request a civilian monitor from the Manitoba Police Commission since the case involves a death. Further details will not be released at this time.
Experts have linked Opaso’s death to a larger pattern of rising violence in Winnipeg. Criminology professor Michael Weinrath from the University of Winnipeg highlighted a significant increase in homicides over the past five years. In 2023, there were 42 homicides recorded by Winnipeg police, a slight decrease from 53 in 2022.
Weinrath and Police Chief Smyth attribute this rise to various factors, including mental health and addiction issues and the proliferation of firearms on the streets.
Afolabi Stephen Opaso dies in fatal Winnipeg shooting Fatal Winnipeg shooting death of Afolabi Stephen Opaso – Obituary A 19-year-old international student, Afolabi Stephen Opaso, was fatally shot by Winnipeg police on New Year’s Eve, according to his family’s lawyer, Jean-René-Dominique Kwilu. Opaso, originally from Nigeria, was studying at the University of Manitoba. The…
Afolabi Stephen Opaso dies in fatal Winnipeg shooting Fatal Winnipeg shooting death of Afolabi Stephen Opaso – Obituary A 19-year-old international student, Afolabi Stephen Opaso, was fatally shot by Winnipeg police on New Year’s Eve, according to his family’s lawyer, Jean-René-Dominique Kwilu. Opaso, originally from Nigeria, was studying at the University of Manitoba. The…