RCMP identify man shot at protest

The man killed by the RCMP outside a BC Hydro public meeting in Dawson Creek on Thursday has been identified as James Daniel McIntyre, a 48- year- old local resident who fellow activists say was an Anonymous member who sent warnings — or threats — to BC Hydro of a potential hack attack shortly before the police shooting.

The killing of McIntyre, who is said to have been wearing the grinning Guy Fawkes mask worn by supporters of Anonymous, a global hacktivist collective, and carrying a knife at the time, has led to threats of vengeance against the RCMP and calls for public protests.

“Anonymous will not stand idly by while our own are cut down in mask,” said a statement sent Saturday to the National Post, threatening the Internet infrastructure of the RCMP and the release of personal information on the identity of the officer who pulled the trigger.

“If we do not receive justice, rest assured there will be revenge,” the statement says.

An apparent denial of service attack targeted RCMP websites over the weekend but all seemed operational Monday. The fallout from the threats, however, sparked infighting among activists under the Anonymous banner, some pushing for alternate ways of dealing with the shooting. By Monday, an Anonymous Twitter account issuing the threats first declared it was “under new management” and then, by afternoon, was deleted.

McIntyre was killed at about 6: 30 p. m. Thursday in the parking lot of the Fixx Urban Grill restaurant.

The RCMP said officers were called to the scene for a report of a man damaging property and disrupting the event. McIntyre was not the person who caused the initial disturbance but confronted two responding officers, said Corp. Dave Tyreman, an RCMP spokesman.

Tyreman said officers “did everything they could to de- escalate” the situation before shooting.

The death is being investigated by the Independent Investigations Office. The IIO said a knife was recovered along with other evidence and the probe is continuing.

Neither the IIO nor the RCMP has identified the officer who shot McIntyre. Tyreman cited the threats against the officer by online activists.

McIntyre worked at Le’s Family restaurant as a dishwasher and cook’s assistant, according to the Alaska Highway News. Owner Le Nguyen said McIntyre was a hard worker and a “normal guy.”

People identifying themselves as Anonymous activists, including some with a known history of hacktivist activity, say McIntyre was a First Nations Anonymous member who, using the Twitter handle @ jaymack9, helped organize opposition to the Site C Dam, a massive hydroelectric project.

On the day of the public hearing, he sent several tweets, most about BC Hydro’s plans.