A Calgary police officer was shot Tuesday and one suspect is dead after what started as a convenience store robbery turned into an attempted carjacking, then a break-in in the northeast community of Abbeydale. Police said the suspect carried a gun and opened fire before running into a neighbourhood garage when officers tried to arrest him.
The Calgary Police Service (CPS) said the injured officer, a five-year member, is recovering in stable condition at the Foothills hospital. Sources have identified the officer as Jordan Forget.
“His family is with him and we ask that they receive privacy at this time,” Calgary Police Chief Const. Roger Chaffin told media on Tuesday.
“As you can imagine, this is every police family’s worst nightmare. A knock at the door or a call informing you that your loved one has been injured on duty is unimaginable.”
WATCH: Calgary Police Chief Roger Chaffin says the officer shot on Tuesday is “remarkable.”
Officers responded to an area near Abingdon Way N.E. at about 9:30 a.m Tuesday for reports of a suspicious male.
Chaffin said the incident started out with the robbery of a convenience store. The suspect then reportedly tried to carjack a woman in the 100 block of Abingdon Way N.E. while carrying a gun, sparking a large response from officers.
As they continued their search, police heard a report that the same man tried to break into a home in the area.
Police spotted the man in between two houses, and when officers tried to arrest him, he started firing shots before running into a nearby garage.
“It is our understanding that a member, or members, returned fire,” Chaffin said. “One officer was shot and was taken to hospital.”
WATCH: Police escorted an ambulance to hospital after a Calgary police member was wounded in Abbeydale.
“I am so proud of how our members – and there were dozens who responded to this call – who all acted with tenacity, professionalism and bravery.”
Officers, along with members of the CPS tactical unit, contained the garage, which eventually became fully engulfed in flames, Chaffin said.
WATCH: Raw video shows flames and smoke billowing out of a home near where a Calgary police officer was shot.
Once the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) extinguished the fire, one man was found dead inside.
As of 1:32 p.m., police said the situation had concluded and residents were no longer being asked to take shelter.
Chaffin said investigators know very little about the suspect. He said that part of the investigation will now be taken over by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which confirmed Tuesday it was investigating.
“In the coming days, more details will become available, but as far as I’m concerned, our members acted with incredible courage in a situation that escalated in a matter of seconds,” Chaffin said.
“To say I’m proud of our members and grateful that our officer is recovering is an understatement.”
WATCH: Calgary Police Chief Roger Chaffin explains the reaction after an event like the shooting of a fellow officer in Abbeydale.
Chaffin said the shooting of an officer is rare for Calgary, adding this is the first time the city has seen a situation like this in 25 to 26 years.
“The frequency of weapons in this city, the frequency of shootings, the chaotic behaviour of people… the criminal nature makes policing very difficult right now,” he said.
“These are young men and women who go out to police, they have families… These are not superheroes, these are average people who are very brave and do what they can on a day-to-day basis to make sure this city remains safe.”
Chaffin went on to thank EMS, the CFD and staff at the Foothills hospital for their help.
‘Very traumatic to see the cop go down’
Tracey Baker, who lives in the area, told Global News she saw the incident unfolding from her front window, saying she heard “a lot of gunfire.”
“We didn’t actually see the cop get shot. But I hope he’s OK,” she said.
“We saw him go down and they dragged him to the middle of the road and they just kept yelling to him, ‘Stay with us, stay with us.’
“Then they rolled him over. I saw the gunshot… the hole in his back and then they put him on the stretcher.”
“It was very traumatic to see the cop go down. You only see this in the movies; I’ve never seen it before.”
“And then we saw smoke bombs in the back, in the garage. This guy kept shooting… he kept shooting.”
WATCH: Calgary Police Chief Roger Chaffin details the events surrounding the shooting of a five-year member.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that it was investigating the incident.
A Global News cameraman on the scene reported seeing an officer injured in the street, then put into an ambulance and taken away from the scene.
He also reported hearing shots coming from a home that was semi-contained by police. A home in the area was seen burning with black smoke visible.
Calgary police officers were seen evacuating one small child and a couple of adults from at least one house next to the home that was burning.
EMS had advised people to stay down in their basements as the incident unfolded.
Calgary posted an update on Twitter at about 3:15 p.m. that road closures were still in place along the 100 block of Abingdon Way N.E.
Several police units were seen in the area with at least 20 police vehicles and tactical officers in the street.