The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has completed its investigation into an officer-involved shooting in Strathcona County.
On the morning of September 23, 2019, Strathcona County RCMP say they received a call from a woman saying that she was going to kill herself. The woman reportedly claimed to have been armed with a knife and a sword.
Two different RCMP units were sent to the address. As the officers approached the bottom of the woman's driveway, the woman allegedly exited her house while wielding a three-foot-long sword.
The report says that the woman began to charge the officers, holding the sword forward at stomach height. Despite being told several times to drop the sword, the woman allegedly continued to run at the officers.
ASIRT says that as the woman approached one of the officers, she was shot a single time in the chest. The officers then notified dispatch that the woman had been shot.
Emergency first aid was performed until EMS arrived. After taking her to the hospital, the woman was declared dead.
A toxicology report found that the woman had alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana in her blood.
ASIRT began an investigation into the shooting to determine if the officer's response was necessary. In conclusion, ASIRT found that there was no wrongdoing in the officer's actions.
ASIRT wrote in a release that while the death of the woman was unfortunate, the force used by the officer was proportionate, necessary, and reasonable given the circumstances.