Death of Eishia Hudson

Eishia Loletta Hudson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on June 2, 2003, to parents Christie Zebrasky and William Hudson.[6] She was raised by her paternal grandmother in Berens River, Manitoba, until moving to Winnipeg at the age of eight to live with her mother.[7]

On April 8, 2020, Winnipeg Police were called to a liquor store after it was reported that multiple suspects allegedly stole alcohol from the store, and took off in a stolen vehicle.[8] An officer recognized the stolen vehicle and began following it down Lagimodiere Boulevard.[9] The vehicle which was an SUV then rammed into a police cruiser and a car chase ensued.[10] While in pursuit, the stolen vehicle collided with multiple other vehicles.[11] Hudson was driving the vehicle with four other suspects inside.[12] After the vehicle Hudson was driving crashed, police attempted to arrest them, she then tried to reverse the vehicle and at that point she was shot.[13] Hudson was transported to hospital in critical condition and later died.[14][15] The four other occupants in the vehicle were charged with robbery and other offences.[16]

In response to Hudson's death, the Indigenous Bar Association pushed the Manitoba government for an independent inquiry into her death.[17] On June 19, 2020, more than a thousand people gathered at the Manitoba Legislative Building for a rally to honour Hudson.[18] Wab Kinew and Leah Gazan attended the rally.[19]

On January 28, 2021, the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba revealed that the unnamed officer who fatally shot Hudson would not be facing any charges.[20] Later that day at a press conference, Hudson’s father called for a public inquiry into police related deaths of Indigenous peoples.[21]

In December 2021, Hudson’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Winnipeg.[22]

• List of killings by law enforcement officers in Canada