Advertisement

Fatal officer-involved shooting under investigation near central Edmonton LRT crossing

Click to play video: 'Modified fake gun found at scene of fatal Edmonton police shooting near LRT crossing'
Modified fake gun found at scene of fatal Edmonton police shooting near LRT crossing
Two potential improvised firearms and a modified fake gun were recovered from the scene where a man was fatally shot by Edmonton police near a LRT crossing last week, ASIRT said in an update Wednesday. Sarah Komadina the details. – Mar 30, 2022

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has been called in to investigate a fatal officer-involved shooting near a central Edmonton LRT crossing Friday morning.

The shooting happened in the area of 95 Street north of 105 Avenue.

The Edmonton Police Service said at about 6:30 a.m., officers saw a suspect in the area of 103A Avenue and 96 Street with what appeared to be a firearm in his hands.

Tactical and canine officers were called in to contain the area for public safety, as police maintained visual contact with the suspect.

Police said the suspect fled and headed toward the LRT tracks along 95 Street and 105 Avenue. A confrontation occurred and police fired their weapons, the EPS said in a news release early Friday afternoon.

Click to play video: 'Deadly police shooting under ASIRT investigation near central Edmonton LRT crossing'
Deadly police shooting under ASIRT investigation near central Edmonton LRT crossing

The suspect was treated on scene and taken to hospital where he died of his injuries later Friday morning, police said.

Story continues below advertisement

Several police vehicles could be seen parked in the area, as well as driving alongside the tracks Friday morning. A large area was cordoned off by police tape.

Global News spoke with a couple of people in the area who said they woke up to what sounded like gunshots before 7 a.m.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Sarah Hewes lives in a building about a block away from the police scene. She said she was asleep when she heard what she described as fast gunshots.

“It woke me up and then I looked outside and saw that the trains were blocked off and there was tape everywhere and cops everywhere.”

Click to play video: 'Police shooting near central Edmonton LRT crossing'
Police shooting near central Edmonton LRT crossing

Hewes has lived in the building for about six months, but said she’s not overly surprised by the violence in the area.

Story continues below advertisement

“In this area it’s not really so much a shock,” she said. “It’s still kind of scary, definitely.”

The Edmonton Transit Service tweeted just before 8 a.m. that trains were not operating through Churchill Station due to an unexpected incident. Buses were brought in to replace trains between stations, according to ETS.

In an update around 3:30 p.m., ETS said full service on the Capital Line had resumed and bus replacement service was cancelled.

Friday’s shooting is one of several officer-involved shootings to happen in Edmonton so far this year.

The night of Saturday, March 12, a man wanted on more than two dozen outstanding warrants was shot by police in the area of 109 Street and 53 Avenue. The 39-year-old man died of his injuries.

On Feb. 24, an armed robbery suspect died after being shot by police in the area of 113 Street and 104 Avenue. ASIRT later said an imitation firearm was recovered from the scene. During this confrontation, a second man — who inside a nearby apartment suite and not involved in the incident — was struck by a stray bullet and died.

Story continues below advertisement

Friday’s shooting also comes just one day after the EPS spoke about an increase in gun violence in the city.

Between Jan. 1 and March 23 of this year, there have been 29 shootings in Edmonton.

Police also said they’re seizing more guns from Edmonton streets.

Click to play video: 'Innocent bystanders could have been harmed in 46% of Edmonton shootings in 2021'
Innocent bystanders could have been harmed in 46% of Edmonton shootings in 2021

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact ASIRT investigators at 780-644-1483.

The EPS said no officers were injured during the incident.

 

Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices