The Mounties are conducting an internal review following the deaths of an eight-year-old boy and his father last week in Coquitlam.
A woman who has identified herself as the mother of the boy and the former partner of the 40-year-old father told a media outlet she had previously warned police about her ex-husband.
Nicole Taitinger told CBC she split with Mark Taitinger in August due to an abusive relationship and she feared for the safety of her son, Oscar. Court documents confirm that the two had entered into court proceedings last month.
"Why did the RCMP not do anything? I told them he said he would shoot them… He had guns and they never removed them," she wrote in a message to CBC.
"He is dead now because the RCMP did nothing."
The bodies were found Oct. 21 in a home on Seaton Avenue.
Monday, RCMP told The Tri-City News it is conducting an internal investigation and will look at any previous police interactions involving the father.
"Without speaking to any specifics, we can also confirm that there are factors involve in this file that meet our criteria to conduct a review and that review is underway," said Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, the senior media relations officer with the RCMP's E Division, in a press release. "The review would include any possible circumstances or previous police interactions."
She said police would not be responding to inquiries until the review and the homicide investigation is complete.
Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said incidents like the one that occurred last Monday are extremely rare in the Tri-Cities. He said an internal review of a case of this nature is "fairly standard."
"I imagine [a review] would have happened regardless [of the mother's comments]," he said.
School District 43 is not confirming any information or releasing any details as to whether the boy was one of its students and if counsellors and other supports are being made available to staff and students.
But in an email, SD43 spokesperson Ken Hoff said: “Any time a student dies suddenly and unexpectedly, a District Critical Incident Team is mobilized to provide support to students, staff and the school community. Typically, the team is activated immediately and remains onsite as long as necessary to provide comfort and guidance.”
