**Updated at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday**
A coroner’s inquest has been ordered into the death of an inmate at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre.
Skyler Brent Sappier-Solomon died at the Saint John Regional Hospital early Monday, two days after he was admitted.
On Wednesday afternoon, acting chief coroner Michael Johnston announced that an inquest would take place.
“The presiding coroner and a jury will publicly hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses to determine the facts surrounding Sappier-Soloman’s death,” said a news release from the Department of Justice and Public Safety.
Officials have not said how Sappier-Solomon died, but Tobique First Nation (Neqotkuk) Chief Ross Perley said it was due to COVID-19.
Perley said family members of the 28-year-old, who was a member of the community, have many unanswered questions.
“We’re calling for an investigation to see whether or not the facility was negligent toward the needs of Mr. Sappier’s health care,” Perley, who is speaking on behalf of the family, said in an interview Tuesday.
Perley said family members were told that Sappier-Solomon had been sick for days and complained of breathing difficulties before being hospitalized.
“I think the family wants to know why he wasn’t sent to the hospital sooner, and that may have saved his life,” he said.
Public Health announced Monday that someone in their 20s in the Saint John health zone who had COVID-19 had died but did not provide details about the individual.
It was only the second COVID-related death involving a person in their 20s in New Brunswick since the pandemic began.
Perley said it is unclear at this time if Sappier-Solomon had any underlying conditions, but he had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
He said the family is awaiting the results of an autopsy and is hoping to get a report from the medical team who treated Sappier-Solomon
Meanwhile, Perley said learning of Sappier-Solomon’s death was a “shock” to the community.
“We’re gonna take the next week and mourn and give his family some time to heal and then we’ll be back at it again just to find some answers,” he said.
While the New Brunswick Coroner Service does not make any findings of legal responsibility, the jury will have an opportunity to make recommendations to prevent deaths under similar circumstances.
The presiding coroner, schedule, and location are yet to be determined. The inquest date will be announced once confirmed.
