REGINA – A public inquest into the police shooting death of 26-year-old Ryan Booker will be held from June 23 - 26 in Regina.
Police say Booker was seen in possession of a firearm at a parking lot in Moose Jaw on July 17, 2022. Following a highway pursuit and a six-hour standoff, Booker was shot during an altercation with police and died at the scene.
RCMP Critical Incident Response Team and Regina SWAT had been called to assist and crisis negotiators tried to de-escalate the situation.
Booker was born in Regina and went to Stewart Russell School until moving to Davidson in 2008, according to his obituary on the Davidson Leader. He moved back to Regina in 2012 and graduated with hounours from Miller High School.
Through a work experience program, he worked at Driven Automotive. After graduating from high school, he was hired full-time as an apprentice. He earned his journeyman’s papers four years later and worked at Driven ever since.
Booker excelled at his profession and was voted Auto Value 2019 Canadian Technician of the Year.
His obituary says that he loved the outdoors and took an interest in fishing and hunting at an early age.
“He spent countless days fishing the shores of Lake Diefenbaker, many times going well into the night with his headlights lighting the way at the boat launch. But hunting was his true passion. He would walk for hours through bush, pastures or sandhills just hoping for a glimpse of a big buck. He was selfless, so many times pushing bush for his friends and family in the hopes that they tag out before him, trying to ensure they enjoyed the outdoors as much as he always did. The experience always meant more to him than filling his tag.”
Booker also loved to spend time in the mountains while visiting family in British Columbia.
He left behind two sons and his fiance Kaity Hofer, the mother of his children.
The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, unexpected deaths. The purpose of an inquest is to establish who died, when and where that person died and the medical cause and manner of death. The coroner's jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.
Coroner Aaron Fox will preside at the inquest.
Story updated to add Kaity Hofer's name and her relationship to Ryan Booker.
