An investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has found the use of lethal force was “not only reasonable but necessary” in the RCMP shooting of a double homicide suspect at a Fox Creek work camp last year. It was reported that two people had been killed in the early morning hours of June 30th at the Berland Open Lodge camp, and that the person responsible had tried to set the place on fire.
When officers arrived, the suspect refused to drop the knife he was holding. He reportedly lunged at the mounties and was shot by two of the officers. As they tried to kick away his weapon, the man again lunged at the officers and was shot in return.
In total, 13 rounds were fired by three officers. Then 28 year old Daniel Goodridge was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. ASIRT Executive Director Susan D. Hughson concluded there are no reasonable grounds to believe any of the officers committed an offence. She adds that their actions stopped any further injuries or deaths of civilian workers.
““At the time police were dealing with the man, it was believed he had already killed two people. In those circumstances, at both points when the man lunged at officers with the knife, there were subjective and objective grounds to believe that the man presented a very high risk.”
In addition to first and second degree murder charges, Goodridge is charged with assault with a weapon against civilians and a police officer, and interfering with human remains, related to pieces of one of the victims’ bodies being cut. A trial is scheduled for Grande Prairie from May 15 to June 9, 2017.
The victims were identified as 37 year old Dave Derksen of LaCrete and 50 year old Hally Dubois of Red Deer.
