The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has completed its investigation into an officer-involved shooting that occurred in December, 2023.
According to ASIRT, on December 20th, the affected person was involved in a domestic violence complaint, which involved the discharge of a firearm, before escalating into a hostage event.
Responding officers safely removed the hostage from the residence after several hours; however, the affected person, still armed, barricaded himself inside the home and refused to exit the residence. Officers contained the residence and negotiators attempted to persuade him to peacefully surrender.
ASIRT’s report indicates the individual moved to the rear glass patio door of the home, making efforts to conceal himself behind curtains. Police say he brandished a shotgun to police through the opening of the door, before repositioning himself behind the curtain, raising the weapon to point directly at the position of one of three officers under investigation for the shooting, along with a witness officer.
Those two officers believed the person in the residence fired at them, leading to three RCMP members discharging their weapons.
ASIRT Assistant Executive Director Matthew Block determined the officers were acting reasonably, under the belief that the affected person posed a risk to their lives if they did not act.
“Their uses of force were proportionate, necessary, and reasonable,” Block’s report reads.
As a result of ASIRT’s findings, the involved officers actions were deemed reasonable, and no offence was committed during the incident.
