Officer Describes Chokehold at Ontario Coroner's Inquest
A London police officer took the stand this week at an Ontario coroner's inquest, describing the terrifying moments before his colleague fatally shot Sarnia tennis player Justin Bourassa in 2021.
London police Const. Ryan Hendrick testified on day four of the inquest, telling jurors that he genuinely believed he was going to die. According to Hendrick, Bourassa had placed him in a chokehold during the confrontation — a moment the officer described as life-threatening.
Moments after that altercation, another officer shot and killed Bourassa.
Who Was Justin Bourassa?
Justin Bourassa was a tennis player from Sarnia, Ontario. His death in 2021 prompted calls from family and community members for a full public accounting of what happened during the encounter with police.
Coroner's inquests in Ontario are not criminal proceedings — they do not assign blame or determine guilt. Instead, they examine the circumstances of a death and can result in recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future. The jury hears from witnesses, including officers involved, and ultimately produces findings and recommendations.
What the Inquest Is Examining
The inquest is tasked with piecing together the sequence of events that led to Bourassa's death. Const. Hendrick's testimony offers the perspective of one of the officers directly involved in the physical altercation that preceded the shooting.
His account — that he feared for his life in the chokehold — speaks to the split-second decision-making that often defines use-of-force incidents and the complex circumstances that coroner's inquests are designed to untangle.
Testimony from officers in cases like these is a critical part of the inquest process, giving jurors firsthand context about what was happening on the ground when force was used.
A Broader Conversation About Policing
Cases involving fatal police shootings continue to prompt difficult conversations across Canada about use of force, police training, mental health crisis response, and accountability. Ontario coroner's inquests serve as one mechanism for communities to seek transparency and push for systemic change.
The Bourassa inquest is ongoing. When the jury concludes its work, it may issue recommendations to police services, government agencies, or other bodies — though those recommendations are non-binding.
For Bourassa's family and the Sarnia community, the inquest represents an opportunity to understand what happened and to advocate for changes that could prevent future loss of life.
Source: CBC News (London). Original reporting by CBC's London bureau.
