Sûreté du Québec probe role of stun gun in fatal police shooting

Quebec provincial police are investigating why a stun gun and a firearm were used in an intervention Monday that led to the death of a 63-year-old man. 

André Benjamin, 63, was pronounced dead in hospital after police were called earlier in the day at an apartment in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.

The Sûreté du Québec said a stun gun was deployed by an officer and that Benjamin was also struck by at least one bullet.

"At this point, it would be irresponsible to come up to a conclusion on if it [the stun gun] did not work, or if there is a problem, or exactly what happened," Sgt. Jason Allard told CBC Montreal's Daybreak on Tuesday.

"I think as we go through the investigation we'll have a lot more details that will follow."

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Allard said that Montreal police officers were called to the apartment block to check on someone in psychological distress. Benjamin had a knife, he said.

Allard wouldn't go into details about what transpired next, saying they are still interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence. 

Montreal police haven't commented on the incident since it was handed over to the SQ.

Under Quebec law, any police intervention where a weapon is discharged or someone is hurt must be investigated by a police force that was not involved in the intervention.

The provincial government voted three years ago to create an independent bureau of investigation, but it is still not operational.