The family of a woman who died after being shot by Calgary police last month is raising money for her funeral. Melanie Hambrook, 53, of Edmonton, was killed during an incident on Deerfoot Trail near Memorial Drive on June 21, 2026.
Family remembers a devoted mother
Her ex-husband, Adam Vaananen, who also lives in Edmonton, described Hambrook as a loving and protective mother to their 16-year-old son, John. “She was a wonderful person as a mother,” Vaananen said on Friday. “She was very giving. She provided anything and everything our son needed and was very protective of him.”
Vaananen and Hambrook had known each other for 20 years and remained in contact because of their son. He said they still cared for each other. “She had a fantastic sense of humour. She loved the ocean. She loved life,” he added.
Fundraiser for funeral costs
To cover funeral expenses, the family has launched an online fundraiser with a goal of $9,000. According to Vaananen, any additional funds will go directly to their son. Hambrook was an artist who painted and sculpted, and she started a business making customized jewelry.
Details of the police shooting
According to the Calgary Police Service, officers responded to multiple reports of an erratic driver on June 21. The driver was believed to have been involved in several collisions downtown and was seen driving the wrong way on one-way streets and running red lights at high speed. Officers eventually stopped the vehicle on Deerfoot Trail between Memorial Drive and 16th Avenue N.
“As officers worked to bring the driver into custody, a confrontation occurred, resulting in multiple officers using a variety of use-of-force tools, including one officer discharging their service firearm,” said Calgary police Insp. Mike Anderson during a news conference. The suspect later died.
Anderson noted that the woman had been driving erratically while fleeing from police inside and outside Calgary over the previous 24 hours. He said her “driving issues” began outside the city and that RCMP had also been involved. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) later confirmed the driver was in possession of a knife.
Mental health concerns raised
Vaananen said Hambrook struggled with her mental well-being and was experiencing a major breakdown due to life stresses on June 21. He described her as not a violent person. “She was not in control of her actions at that time,” he said.
Vaananen believes police could have handled the situation differently. After not hearing from Hambrook for a day, he contacted RCMP and informed them of her history. “They should have asked more questions because they treated this incident as a hostile person with clarity who was intent on hurting people,” he said. “That was not her intention, and I don’t think they were equipped to handle her mental well-being issues at all.”
ASIRT continues to investigate the incident.
