Hospital security kill brain cancer patient after mistaking pink cigarette lighter for a gun

A cancer patient at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Canada, has died after an altercation with security. Trevor Dubois, 36, reportedly got into a physical altercation when security mistook a pink and yellow cigarette lighter for a firearm.

Dubois, a First Nations member and indigenous to Canada, was in hospital receiving treatment for a tumor in his brain but died on Friday January 9. 

Details of what went down between him and the hospital security aren’t clear. In the wake of his death authorities claimed that drugs and an imitation firearm were discovered in the room according to an article from GlobalNew.CA. However, his family are currently disputing the story that there was ever a fake firearm.

According to police, security officers had received reports of a firearm seen inside Trevor Dubois’ room. Security attempted to restrain the man but there was apparently an “altercation,” which resulted in the man becoming unresponsive and dying at the scene. 

They also stated that methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and an imitation gun were found in the room.

Speculation over the death of Trevor Dubois

Dubois’ niece Jayden Dubois, and his mother Val Dubois claimed that the object which security had mistaken for a firearm was in fact a pink and yellow cigarette lighter/holder. Their version of events contradicts what authorities claim to be the case but Val claims she simply wants answers as to what happened. “Trevor would never hurt anybody,” she claimed, “I just want answers. How did this happen?”

Those who knew Trevor have expressed shock by the picture being painted of him by authorities according to CBC.ca. “He lived his whole life trying to help people who are less fortunate,” Jermaine McKenzie, who knew Trevor, said of the man. His friends and family claim he had a huge impact on the people and his community, advocating for indigenous people, the 2SLGBTQ+ community, students and more.

“He had a huge impact. If you just look at the outpouring of support all over social media, you can see that it’s someone who truly touched our lives.”

Online there is already a great deal of outcry over his death with some speculating that the story given by police may be a cover-up. On TikTok, one creator suggested that systemic racism towards indigenous people, particularly in the healthcare system, may have played a major factor in the events that ultimately led to his death.

Whatever the case, Trevor Dubois’ family are not satisfied with the official version of events and many agree that based on what people knew of Trevor, it just doesn’t add up. Why would someone in his position bring a gun into a hospital?