Families of men killed by Winnipeg police team up to call for joint inquest 'sooner rather than later'

The families of two men who were fatally shot by Winnipeg police within weeks of each other want a joint inquest to examine their deaths together, their lawyers say.

Lawyers for the families of Afolabi Opaso, 19, and Bradley Singer, 59, held a press conference in Winnipeg on Friday to call for a joint inquest and for the province to introduce support services for families who've lost loved ones to police violence.

Martin Glazer, the lawyer representing Singer's brother, Gerry, says Manitoba's Fatality Inquiries Act requires an inquest if it's believed a person died as a result of use of force by police.

But he says the act also allows the chief medical examiner to request a single inquest into two or more deaths if their circumstances are similar enough that separate inquiries are not needed.

"The two shooting deaths by the Winnipeg police, in this case, bear similarities," said Glazer. "Not only do they involve the same police force, but in both cases, the men killed were mentally ill."

Opaso, 19, was shot dead by Winnipeg police officers responding to a well-being call at an apartment building at 77 University Cres. on Dec. 31, 2023, the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba — which investigates all serious incidents involving police in the province — previously said.

Less than two months later, Winnipeg police fatally shot Singer, 59, at his home on Magnus Avenue, after officers attempted to take him to hospital for a non-voluntary examination under the province's Mental Health Act.

Gerry Singer, who spoke to the media about his brother's death for the first time at the news conference, says Bradley became ill in his early 20s and had "delusions about religious beliefs."

He also described Bradley as "enigmatic" and having missed mandated doctor's appointments in the weeks before his death.

"But that doesn't mean he needs to die for that."

Winnipeg police told the IIU on Feb. 13 that officers encountered a man with a weapon who retreated into a Magnus Avenue home earlier that day. Police later described the man to reporters as "agitated," saying he had a crowbar and used a fire extinguisher against officers.

Officers broke into the home where the man lived to try and talk to him, police said. He barricaded himself in a second-floor bedroom, later confronting officers with what police described as a large edged weapon before they shot him.

Gerry says he rushed to the Health Sciences Centre when he was told his youngest brother had been shot, but learned about two hours later that Bradley was dead.

"My life has changed forever," he said. "I can't imagine how my brother felt dying like that. It's got to be horrific."