The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has cleared an Alberta RCMP member of any wrongdoing in a fatal shooting north of Edmonton last year.
In her investigation, ASIRT executive director Susan Hughson said the use of force by officers near Morinville in May 2015 was reasonable and justified and that the officers involved acted lawfully when a 47-year-old man was shot and killed.
RCMP were called to a rural property on May 22, 2015 by a person concerned for their safety. Police were told a male relative, who was prohibited from the residence, was on the property.
Four officers and a canine unit were brought in to search the property and find the man, who was located about 30 minutes later south of the initial search location.
When police called out to the man, ASIRT said he picked up two long-barrelled firearms and turned to walk away from the police.
Additional assistance from the Emergency Response Team was requested while the officers attempted to get the man to put down his guns.
The man then appeared to load one of the guns and pointed it at one of the officers, ASIRT said. The officer fired a single shot and the man fell to the ground.
A few minutes later, when ERT members were able to make sure the man was no longer a threat, EMS personnel moved in to provide medical care. They were unable to resuscitate him.
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READ MORE: Man dead after officer-involved shooting near Morinville
An autopsy confirmed the man died of a gunshot wound to the torso. Toxicology tests also detected methamphetamine in his body.
ASIRT said the man had a lengthy history of mental illness and trouble with the law. In the year before his death, ASIRT said the man had made comments that he would not be able to handle going to jail, that he hated police and that he had had suicidal thoughts.
ASIRT said the man was on probation at the time, which required him to be under care by a psychiatric professional. ASIRT was not able to say whether the man was receiving care but said his death would be proceeding to a fatality inquiry.
The man’s name has not been released.
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