The family of a young black Montreal man who died while in police custody is waiting for answers about what exactly happened.
The man was found dead two weeks ago in a holding cell at Montreal municipal court.
"He was starting a new job on the day he died," said Virginie Dufresne-Lemire, the lawyer for the family of 23-year-old David Kalubi Tshiteya.
"He had projects, he had a girlfriend, he was close to his family."
Quebec's Independent Investigations Bureau (BEI) which is looking into the case said in a brief statement that there was an outstanding warrant for a 23-year-old man whom they did not name. They said he was arrested Nov. 7 at 10:40 p.m. and transported to a police station where he spent the night.
The BEI said the young man was transferred at around 7:35 a.m. to Montreal municipal court for his arraignment and placed in a holding cell with about a dozen other people.
The BEI said about an hour later, the man was found unconscious on the floor of the cell. He was taken to hospital where doctors tried to resuscitate him but he died at 9:55 a.m.
Dan Philip, president of the Black Coalition of Quebec said the family told him they were notified of Tshiteya's death 14 hours later.
"The mother is distraught about this situation," said Philip in an interview with CJAD 800 News.
"She doesn't have a clear understanding as to how her son got into the station and how he ended up dead."
Philip said the family told him Tshiteya was with a friend at the time and arrested for jaywalking, adding they said they believe it was a case of racial profiling.
Dufresne-Lemire said the warrant for the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve resident was for breach of conditions but would not say for what charges or give any other information to avoid muddling the investigation by the BEI.
"(The family) wants to know the cause of death, why did he die, is it linked with is medical condition?" said Dufresne-Lemire in an interview with CJAD 800 News.
Dufrense-Lemire said Tshiteya had sickle cell anemia.
"Could it have been prevented? Did he ask for help?"
The BEI has taken over since Tshiteya was under the supervision of Montreal police but Philip said he has no faith in the system.
"It is still the police that investigates the police," said Philip.
"There must be an independent inquiry."
They're now waiting on a coroner's report. Tshiteya's funeral is this weekend.