Investigation clears RCMP officers in Onoway shooting death

Officers who shot a knife-wielding Onoway man in January have been cleared of wrongdoing.

Two Stony Plain RCMP officers were cleared in the shooting death of 49-year-old Darby Mahon after a seven-month investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), an independent group that investigates cases of serious injuries or deaths resulting from police action.

Mahon, who lived with his daughter and her baby, was shot around 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 11, after officers arrived at 5107 Lac Ste. Anne Trail to investigate a 911 call about a domestic dispute.

According to investigators, Mahon was holding a knife when police arrived. Officers demanded he drop the weapon, but Mahon instead approached with the knife. The officers shot Mahon, and paramedics were unable to revive him.

The investigation involved interviews with 11 witnesses.

A machete and knife were found at the scene, but investigators would not comment on whether the man was holding the weapons when he was shot.

Clif Purvis, executive director of ASIRT, ruled police were acting in self-defence and were justified in shooting Mahon.

Onoway is about 70 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.