Ontario officers arrive in Corner Brook to probe police shooting of Jorden McKay

Members of the Ontario Provincial Police have arrived in Corner Brook to investigate the officer-involved shooting death of Jorden McKay.

CBC News has learned McKay, 27, was the man who was shot and killed by an on-duty member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary on Tuesday night.

• Man shot dead by RNC officer, OPP to investigate

Friends and family of McKay, who has a criminal record andhas had encounters with police before, have been posting tributes to the young man online.

A member of McKay's familytold CBCNews late Thursday afternoon they have issues with the police reportedly providing specificsto media before telling the family.

They plan on making those concerns public in the days to come.

Social media posts suggest McKay was a father to two young children.

"He was energetic, spontaneous and had a huge heart," said cousin Amy Connolly.

"He was creative and loved music. He enjoy people and talking and being surrounded."

Connolly said McKaywas a man who loved his family, and was "truly trying hard to better himself butthe systems designed to help often crippled him."

A spokesperson from the OPP provided few details Thursday, only to say investigators left Ontario for Newfoundland on Wednesdaynight, and the investigation is in its preliminary stages.

According to RNC Chief Joe Boland, two on-duty officers arrived at ahome onCarriage Lane around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, responding to a criminal complaint.

Court documents list the residence asMcKay's home.

McKay had a four-page criminal record, including charges of assault, unlawfully being in a dwelling, and breaches. The most serious incidents wereconvictions of assault with a weapon.

He was scheduled to appear in provincial court in Corner Brook on Jan. 7 on multiple charges.

Court documents show McKay was charged Sunday with assaulting a woman and breaching a court condition. He was also charged in April with assaulting that same woman.

On Thursday afternoon, a friend launched a Go Fund Me campaign to help the family with funeral expenses.

2 officers on leave

Boland, who did not answer questions from members of the media, has not disclosed what the complaint was, or the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

During the investigation, Boland said, a confrontation began between the officers and McKay, and one of the officers drew his weapon.

Early morning scene after fatal police shooting

6 years ago

Duration 0:28

A man was shot and killed after RNC were called to a Corner Brook home on what they say was a criminal complaint in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

McKaydied an hour later in hospital.

The two officers involved have been placed on leave and will be assigned to administrative duties when they return to work while the investigation is ongoing.

Bolandemphasized at the news conference Wednesdaythat putting an officer on leave does not speak to any possible wrongdoing.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, meanwhile,willconduct an independent, external review of the OPP's investigation, once that concludes.

An autopsy was expected to begin in St. John's on Thursday.

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