ASIRT releases new details about fatal police shooting in northeast Edmonton
Alberta's law enforcement watchdog released more information Tuesday about events leading to a fatal police shooting in northeast Edmonton late last month.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) issued a news release outlining the event, providing some new details, and asking any potential witnesses to contact the agency.
ASIRT said that just before 9 p.m. on June 29, the Edmonton Police Service received a 911 call about a single vehicle rollover on Anthony Henday Drive. The caller said the male driver had left the scene on foot.
Officers began searching for the man in surrounding neighbourhoods in the community of Fraser, the release said. Around 9:10 p.m., the EPS Air 1 helicopter began flying over the area.
A description of the man was given to EPS and at 9:21 p.m. an officer said over the radio that he had found someone matching the description.
The ASIRT news release describes the man walking in the direction of the officer's vehicle as he drove it toward him with its emergency lights on.
"At approximately 9:22 p.m., the subject officer stopped his vehicle and stepped out facing the male," the release said.
"The male stopped walking and raised his arms to his sides while facing the officer who had his gun drawn. The subject officer and male engaged verbally with each other.
"The subject officer fired his weapon at the male who was hit and dropped to the ground."
The man was given medical attention but died as a result of gunshot wounds, ASIRT said.
An EPS news release issued June 30 said the collision had involved an impaired driver, but ASIRT made no mention of the man's sobriety in its statement Tuesday.
EPS said in the June 30 release that the 28-year-old man was taken to hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
They said the man had not been detained at the time of the shooting.
Neither EPS nor ASIRT said anything in their news releases about whether or not the man had been armed.
ASIRT said its investigation "will examine the use of force by the officer."
ASIRT's mandate is to investigate incidents involving Alberta's police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person. It also investigates serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.
