Montreal police officer charged in fatal shooting of Bony Jean-Pierre in 2016 drug bust

A Montreal police officer has been charged in the death of Bony Jean-Pierre, who was shot dead during a drug bust in March 2016.

Christian Gilbertis accused of manslaughter in the death of the 46-year-old man.

Quebec'sDirector of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) announced the chargesin a news release Wednesday. Gilbert, who is now suspended with pay,was released withapromise to appear on July 6.

Jean-Pierre was shot in the head with a plastic bullet onMarch 31, 2016, while trying to flee from police during a drug raid in Montreal North.Hedied a few days laterof his injuries.

A total of 11 people were arrested in the drug bust.

The charges against Gilbert come following an investigation by Quebec provincial police. The SQ took over the case, as the law at the time required another police service to investigate any operation in which a police firearm was discharged.

The BEI, the province's independent investigation unitwhich now oversees such incidents involving police, had not yet been set up when the probe into Jean-Pierre's deathwas launched.

• Background on Bony Jean-Pierre's death

The spokespersonfor the DPCPsaidit doesn't matter which agencyspearheaded the investigation.

"All that matters is whether there is enough evidence," said Jean-Pascal Boucher, adding that now it is up to a judge or jury to move forward with the case.

Montreal police say they will not comment on the case.

Rare for officer to face charge

Since 1999, only nineincidents thatled to the death or injury of civilians by police in Quebec have resulted in charges against an officer.

Activist RobynMaynardfrom the Justice for Victims of Police Killingssaid thecharges against Gilbertare a small step in the right direction after the death of Jean-Pierre, a black man, raised larger issues such as racial profiling.

"We haven't seen any systemic ways of addressing the factors that actually led to the death of Bony Jean-Pierre, such as the extreme levels of really racist violence, of racial profiling," saidMaynard.

Shooting led to Montreal North protests

The shooting heightened tensions between police and the community in Montreal North.

About 100 people organized a vigil and march after Jean-Pierre's death in April 2016.The eventbegan peacefully, but erupted in violence later whensome protesters began targeting shops and vehicles, police say.

Some of the protestors vandalized cars, setfire to a bankand threw projectiles at the local police station.

The march coincided with what would have been the 26thbirthday of Fredy Villanueva, who was shotand killed by police in 2008 after officers moved in to break up an illegal game of dice in apark.

The union representing police officers condemned how the riot was handled, claimingthat officers were given orders to stand down as the event degenerated.Police Chief PhilippePichetdefended the response, sayingthat police had taken a less visible approach.

In June 2016, Montreal police announced that no charges would be laid in connection with the protest.

• March for Fredy Villanueva, Bony Jean-Pierreturns violent