Photo courtesy of ASIRT.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has completed an investigation into an officer-involved shooting near Rocky Mountain House in 2021.
The fatal shooting happened during the investigation of a carjacking from the day before.
A 39-year-old male was identified as a suspect, who was also believed to have been involved in a homicide in Edmonton.
It was later confirmed that he killed his ex-girlfriend and wounded a male.
RCMP continued their investigation to locate the suspect, and stolen vehicle.
Police Service Dog (PSD) located the vehicle and tracked the occupant to a nearby building at an oilfield battery site near Rocky Mountain House.
Police believed the suspect could have been in possession of a firearm.
Officers, PSD, and RCMP Emergency Response Team members (ERT) contained the scene, while a negotiator attempted to persuade the suspect to surrender.
During communications, the suspect fired two shots while inside the building.
After negotiations failed to advance, RCMP introduced an irritant gas into the building.
The suspect exited the building with a long-barrelled firearm.
A non-lethal projectile weapon was discharged at the suspect, who only stumbled and then pointed the firearm toward the officers.
As a result, officers discharged their ERT service firearms, striking the suspect.
He sustained critical injuries, and despite emergency medical intervention, died on the scene.
An autopsy determined he died from multiple gunshot wounds
Toxicology found ethanol, fentanyl, Cannabis, and a significant amount of cocaine in his blood.
A 12-gauge pistol-grip pump-action shotgun was recovered on the scene, with live shotgun ammunition and spent shotgun shells.
“All subject officers were faced with an individual that was armed with a shotgun, had repeatedly failed to follow directions to surrender peacefully, had already killed his girlfriend, and made repeated comments that he was going to get into a shootout with police," ASIRT’s report said.
Concluding that the officers acted properly in the execution of their duties, and there was no evidence to support any belief that officers engaged in unlawful or unreasonable conduct that would give rise to an offense.
“Force intended to cause death or grievous bodily harm is justified if the officer believes, on reasonable grounds, that the force was necessary to prevent the death or grievous bodily harm of the officer or any other person,” the report said.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@centralalbertaonline.com.
CentralAlbertaOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the CentralAlbertaOnline app.