UPDATE: On April 3, 2023, ASIRT released the findings of its investigation which concluded that the case did not involve any criminality. ASIRT said that the man who was killed first pointed his gun at the officers who were called to a domestic violence complaint. The officers were defending themselves, according to ASIRT, and the use of force was necessary and reasonable in the circumstances. Click here to view the report in its entirety.
Alberta’s police watchdog has been called in to investigate after an officer shot and killed a suspect in northwestern Alberta Tuesday night.
Grande Prairie RCMP were called to a domestic dispute near a Petro-Canada gas station at 100 Street and 132 Avenue around 8:15 p.m., the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team said.
According to a news release, officers encountered a man and a confrontation occurred, during which two officers fired their guns. The man suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds and died at the scene, ASIRT said.
Police said no other officers or citizens were injured.
Following the shooting, ASIRT said investigators recovered a non-police firearm, along with spent shell casings matching that gun.
ASIRT is investigating the officer’s actions during the shooting, and RCMP will continue to investigate the events leading up to it.
ASIRT is called in to investigate any police action that leaves another person injured or dead, as well as serious and sensitive allegations of police misconduct.
Grande Prairie is about 458 northwest of Edmonton.