Calgary mother killed by police demands justice

The mother of a Calgary man shot and killed by police earlier this year arrived in the city from Sudan on Saturday as calls for justice grew.

Latjor Tuel, 41, was shot by Calgary police on Feb. 19 in the 4500 block of 17th Avenue SE after officers responded to a gun complaint.

“Latjor was not shot in the head or chest, he needed help,” said Tuel's mother, Rebecca Aker Akol, who laid a wreath at the spot where her son was shot.

Tuel was a child soldier who grew up in Sudan and moved to Calgary in 2000 to start a better life.

Akol hadn't seen her son in nearly two decades, but knew he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and never imagined their last visit would be at a Calgary cemetery.

“My children need closure, I want to touch his grave, I want to touch his body, I'm here to find accountability,” she said.

“I demand justice for Latzhor. I want to know who killed him. I want to know why.'

Tuel was a child soldier who grew up in Sudan and moved to Calgary in 2000 to start a better life.

Investigators say Tuel was armed with a knife and a stick during the incident that led to his death. A video of the incident shows Tuel sitting on the sidewalk surrounded by several officers and repeatedly asked to drop his weapon.

Police say non-lethal weapons were used, but efforts to negotiate a peace resulted in officers firing their guns when Tuel approached and stabbed a police dog.

Tuel was shot four times by two officers. He died at the scene, and his body remained at the scene for several hours. The police officers were not injured, and the police dog was taken to an animal hospital in life-threatening condition.

“It was Latzhor who took care of us, he was like a father to us. It is very difficult for us to see our mother at such a time, it is very painful emotionally and physically,” said Tuel's sister Temar Kuly Tuel.

“Justice is for all of us, everyone must be accountable, justice is for Latjor. If justice is served, at least we will have closure.”

ASIRT INVESTIGATION CONTINUED

CTV News has reached out to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which continues to investigate the incident.

The province's police watchdog is appealing for witnesses to come forward with any additional information, but nothing was available when asked for an update on the investigation.

CTV asked for a timeline on how long the investigation would take and was unable to provide a specific answer.

Calgary police previously said they were responding to an assault involving Tooele, not a mental health report.

“This incident involved an assailant who was armed with a weapon,” Chief Mark Neufeld said earlier this year.

“It was a police call and the police were the appropriate resource.”

CALGARY SUDAN COMMUNITY CALLS FOR ANSWERS

Chor Top, president of the Calgary South Sudanese community, says more mental health resources should have been sent before Tuel's death.

“He was struggling, he didn't need a bullet, he needed counseling, trauma treatment and healing,” Topp said.

Akol hadn't seen her son in nearly two decades, but knew he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and never imagined their last visit would be at a Calgary cemetery.

“Justice now means holding people accountable and doing things fairly, rather than the police being the protectors of the community. In the future, if there is any problem for someone who is suffering, justice means those who can help someone or hospitalize them.”

The group adds that rebuilding the relationship between Calgary police and the local Sudanese community is poised to improve security.

“So if the police are willing to build a relationship and trust with the community, I don't think it's a problem,” he said.

“It requires a willingness to work together as a community and stand by our community members for everyone's safety. Building that relationship is the most important thing.”

Charles Odame-Ankrah, along with the Calgary African Community, discussed the issue and called on police to improve their de-escalation skills.

“Latzhor did not have a gun, he had a stick and a knife. He was just looking for help. He was mentally disturbed. It was so sad,” said Odame Ankrah.

“Wrong has no color and we want to emphasize that it doesn't matter whether you are Caucasian, black, Caribbean or any race, and we have to call it what it is.”