UPDATE: On Oct. 17, 2023, ASIRT issued a news release confirming that the person who died was a 33-year-old man and that the person he shot was a woman. The police watchdog said it believes the suspect also shot at nearby vehicles and homes before driving away “a short distance” in his vehicle. “RCMP officers arrived and contained the area,” ASIRT said. “An interaction took place between officers and the man, resulting in officers firing their guns at the man. Officers removed the man from his vehicle and began first aid before paramedics took over. The man died at the scene.” Anyone who may have been in the area and may have witnessed what happened — or who may have video — is asked to call ASIRT investigators at 780-644-1483.
Original story below:
Alberta’s police watchdog is investigating after a person suspected of shooting and wounding someone in Fort McMurray on Wednesday was shot and killed by the RCMP.
In a news release issued Thursday, the RCMP said officers were called to a firearms complaint in the Beaconwood Place area at about 4 p.m.
The said investigators believe a male approached a female at her home and shot her before leaving in a vehicle and firing “several more shots.”
“An altercation ensued between the male suspect and the police, resulting in shots being fired,” the RCMP said. “The male suspect was struck and has succumbed to his injuries.
“The female victim was taken to a local hospital and has since been released. No officers were injured in the incident.”
Police have not said how old the suspect was or how old the victim is.
As the incident first unfolded, the RCMP issued a shelter-in-place advisory for area residents but it was lifted shortly after 5:30 p.m.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has now been tasked with investigating “the circumstances surrounding the actions of the police during this investigation,” the RCMP said Thursday.
“Independent of ASIRT’s investigation, the RCMP’s internal review process has been implemented to gather a full account of what took place during this incident,” police said.
“RCMP training, policy, police response and the member’s duty status will be subject to review.”