On Oct. 19th, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) was directed to investigate the circumstances surrounding an RCMP officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of a 33-year-old man.
On that same date, at approximately 9:15 a.m., the RCMP responded to a complaint of a sleeping or passed-out driver in a vehicle parked on the side of a range road between Stettler and Red Deer. Three officers responded and located a vehicle that had been reported stolen. A lone man appeared to be sleeping or unconscious in the driver’s seat.
As two officers approached the driver’s side of the vehicle to address the man and remove him from the vehicle, a struggle ensued and the man put the stolen vehicle in reverse, striking one of the officers with the driver’s door. The reversing vehicle rammed an unoccupied RCMP vehicle parked behind it with enough force to send the cruiser into the ditch and causing it to roll. Two of the three officers fired their service weapons, causing fatal injuries to the man who, once taken to hospital, was declared deceased.
The officer who was struck and dragged was not seriously injured. The remaining two officers were uninjured.
In addition to other evidence, ASIRT investigators have located and secured recorded video of the incident.
The man’s family was notified of the incident. The death of any person, regardless of the circumstances, impacts many and this case is no different. ASIRT extends its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the man.
As ASIRT’s investigation continues, no further information will be publicly released until it has been concluded and those impacted by the incident and the investigation have been notified of the outcome.
A man is dead after being shot by police this morning southwest of Alix.
The RCMP encountered a situation this morning on RR 234, near Hwy. 11 southwest of the Town, which resulted in the discharge of police firearms by Bashaw RCMP officers.
At 9:15 a.m. RCMP officers located a parked stolen vehicle in the rural area. As officers approached the lone male occupant to investigate further, a confrontation occurred leading the RCMP to discharge their firearms.
The male involved in this incident was air lifted to hospital in critical condition and has since been declared deceased. The officers involved were not injured.
There is no further public safety risk. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating the police actions in accordance with their mandate to effectively, independently, and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person. The RCMP remains the lead investigating agency on the events leading up to the serious incident, with ASIRT having carriage of the review of police actions.
As this matter is under investigation by ASIRT, the RCMP will not be providing further information.
– Fawcett
