The B.C. Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who was found deceased in downtown Nanaimo on Jan. 2.
He was Jerry Patrick Jimmy, 27.
The B.C. Coroners Service and Nanaimo RCMP continue to investigate the death of Jimmy, whose body was found Jan. 2 lying between two cars at the Budget Car and Truck Rentals on Terminal Avenue shortly after 8 a.m., according to a Budget employee who did not want to be identified.
RCMP investigators were on the scene most of the morning, but have not indicated whether foul play is suspected.
The Nanaimo RCMP Serious Crime Unit is investigating, according to a Nanaimo RCMP press release.
"The investigation is only in the preliminary stages and at this time there is no further information to release," said Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in a press release.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. confirmed Jan. 3 that the Nanaimo RCMP had contacted the organization, but no details have been released about if or how police were involved with the man prior his death.
"At this point, all we can confirm is that we have been notified of a fatal incident in Nanaimo," said Aidan Buckley, IIO B.C. spokesman, in an e-mail. "As with all of our investigations, the primary focus at this point is to determine if there is any connection between the male's death and actions of police. If there is, we will continue our investigation. If we do not establish a connection, then we will release jurisdiction back to the police."
Buckley said the office receives hundreds of notifications, but only about 25 per cent of those meet the criteria threshold to open investigations.
The IIO issued a statement shortly after 4 p.m. the same day to say its investigation had concluded after finding no connection between the victim's death and the actions of police.