17-year-old charged in officer-involved shooting

LETHBRIDGE – A 17-year-old is facing several charges for events leading up to an officer-involved shooting that happened on Oct. 9.

The male youth, who cannot be identified, is charged with one count each of sexual assault, theft under $5,000 and possession of an offensive weapon dangerous to the public.

Police said a young male approached and sexually assaulted a female at a Safeway store on University Drive at around 6:20 p.m. Security were alerted and found the man holding a large knife, taken from the store’s butcher counter. Multiple customers saw him swinging the knife and called police.

Lethbridge Regional Police officers located the male in the 300 block of Red Crow Boulevard. He was armed with a long-bladed knife and during a confrontation, an officer discharged his pistol.

The youth was taken to hospital and treated for serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 25.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team continues to investigate the officer-involved shooting.