British Columbia

Coroner's jury makes 3 recommendations in death of man shot dead by police outside Surrey detachment

A coroner's jury examining the police-shooting death of a 20-year-old in Surrey, B.C., has released its recommendations to B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office, the province and RCMP.

Hudson Brooks was shot 9 times as he advanced toward RCMP constable in July 2015 incident

A memorial to Hudson Brooks outside the Surrey RCMP detachment in September 2017. (Jesse Johnston/CBC)

A coroner's jury examining the police-shooting death of a 20-year-old in Surrey, B.C., has released its recommendations following a four-day inquest.

Hudson Brooks died in July 2015 when he was shot nine times as he advanced toward RCMP Const. Elizabeth Cucheran during a confrontation outside the Surrey detachment.

The first recommendation calls on the RCMP to increase training and improve communications related to incident management, and the second asks the Independent Investigations Office to send investigative material and findings to the RCMP so training can be improved.

The third recommendation urges the province to consider new technology for intermediate force options, such as stun guns.

Cucheran, who fired a total of 12 times, testified she was terrified as the unarmed Brooks, wearing only boxer shorts, ran at her while repeatedly screaming "kill me" and then pinned her under him after she fell while trying to back away.

She was originally charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon but those charges were stayed in 2019. Details released by the B.C. Prosecution Service said Brooks had alcohol and cocaine in his system at the time of his death.