Brydon Whitstone, 22, was shot and killed by an RCMP member Saturday evening.
The RCMP’s press release, issued Sunday morning, states they received a call at approximately 8:55 p.m. from a male who reported being chased by a vehicle and shot at by the occupants. The RCMP began a pursuit of the suspect vehicle, which ended shortly after “when the suspect vehicle rammed a police vehicle and became immobilized near the intersection of 15th Avenue and 105th Street.”
“In response to the to driver’s actions following the pursuit,” the RCMP shot Whitstone, the driver of the vehicle. Whitstone died en route to the hospital.
Regina Police Service is investigating the matter. The RCMP has also requested the Ministry of Justice appoint an independent observer.
The RCMP hosted a news conference in Regina on Sunday to speak about the incident. Chief Superintendent Maureen Levy offered little additional information to the above, answering most of reporters’ questions with the response that Regina police are investigating the incident.
Eldon Whitstone, Brydon’s cousin, questions the RCMP’s use of force under the circumstances.
Describing his cousin, Eldon said he practiced taekwondo and boxing with Brydon. Eldon said Brydon “loved contact sports.” Brydon competed in the 2010 Saskatchewan Winter Games in Moose Jaw.
Brydon was also the father of two children.
Whitstone was an active social media user. He appears to have used a number of different Facebook profiles with variations on his name. Many of the posts were publicly accessible on Facebook earlier this week.
One particularly revealing Facebook account appears to document the time Whitstone spent in prison in 2016.
On Feb. 16, 2017, Whitstone wrote he’d be released on Feb. 23, and two photos appeared on Feb. 23 of Whitstone, out of prison, flexing his muscles.
The presence of gang imagery in Whitstone’s posts increased once he was released from prison, particularly relating to the Westside Outlaws, a group that reportedly has ties to Onion Lake.
Whether Whitstone had any association with any gang is currently unknown to the Regional Optimist, as is to what extent Saturday’s incident had any relation to gang activity. Landin Blanko, who identified himself as Whitstone's brother*, has reportedly denied that Whitstone was a gang member.
On multiple Facebook accounts, Whitstone listed North Battleford as his residence. Facebook groups he belonged to include Battlefords Buy, Barter and Sell, and Moccasin Telegraph with Ray Fox, a group pertaining to a radio show by the former city councilor.
An online obituary for Brydon Junior Whitstone, a son Whitstone had with Tonia Bowman, noted the baby was born and died the same day in September, and the service was held at Witchekan Lake First Nation.
*An earlier version of this article published at 10:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25 stated Landin Blanko was Brydon Whitstone's brother. A report has surfaced in which Whitstone's aunt, Ruth Lewis, denied Blanko was Whitstone's brother. Given that the Regional Optimist layout must be finished Wednesday morning, the Thursday, Oct. 26 issue of the paper states that Blanko was Whitstone's brother.
