Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating after Alberta RCMP shot and killed a thirty-two-year-old Poundmaker Cree Nation man west of Edmonton.
According to RCMP, on Aug. 30 at about 4:30 p.m. police received a call about a domestic aggravated assault that occurred earlier in the day on Onion Lake Cree Nation, Sask.
Saskatchewan RCMP issued a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) for the suspect to Alberta RCMP. Police were given a description of the vehicle and warned that the man driving the vehicle likely had a firearm. A number of Alberta RCMP resources were deployed in an effort to locate the man in Alberta. The Alberta RCMP learned that the suspect’s cell phone information indicated a possible location west of Edmonton.
Alberta RCMP Emergency Response Team located the suspect vehicle heading west on Hwy 16 and they attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver didn’t stop and a police pursuit was started.
Police called the suspect on his cell phone and tried to de-escalate the situation but the driver refused to surrender and made several threats with the use of a firearm.
Police deployed a tire deflation device near Entwistle, which successfully stopped the vehicle on Hwy 16 near Range Road 73.
An interaction occurred between the RCMP and the suspect and the man was shot. The RCMP ERT Medic immediately provided first aid to the man. Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and attempted to save the man but he died at the scene.
The westbound lanes of Hwy 16 near Range Road 73 were closed to traffic until about 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 31.
Police located a .22-calibre rifle at the scene.
ASIRT investigators are asking anyone who was in the area of Hwy 16 and Range Road 73 near Entwistle on Aug. 30 and witnessed the incident, or anyone who has information or video related to this incident, to contact ASIRT at 780-644-1483.
ASIRT is investigating. ASIRT investigates incidents involving Alberta police that result in serious injury or death to a person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.
Story updated Sept. 9, 1:33 p.m. to clarify that the incident occurred on Onion Lake Cree Nation but the man shot was from Poundmaker Cree Nation.
