The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday night in Irricana, where a man died after being shot by RCMP during an altercation on Highway 9.
Incident Details
Mounties responded to a 911 call at approximately 6:20 p.m. on July 3, locating a suspect on Highway 9 in Irricana. According to an RCMP release, an altercation ensued during which at least one officer discharged their service weapon, striking the suspect. Life-saving measures were initiated, but the suspect was declared deceased at the scene. No officers were injured.
Investigation Underway
The nature of the 911 call has not been disclosed, and no further details about the incident have been released. ASIRT, Alberta's police watchdog, has taken over the investigation. Additionally, an internal RCMP review of the fatality will be conducted. “Events like this are difficult for everyone involved,” the RCMP release stated.
Recent String of Fatal Shootings
This marks at least the fourth fatal officer-involved shooting in Alberta over the past two weeks. On June 21, an unidentified woman was fatally shot by a Calgary Police Service officer on Deerfoot Trail after multiple reports of erratic driving. ASIRT's preliminary report indicated the woman was holding a knife when she confronted officers about 20 minutes after being located inside her SUV. Officers used a projectile launcher and a Taser, and one officer fired a police rifle.
On June 26, a 59-year-old man died after being shot by an Edmonton Police Service officer during a confrontation outside a home following a series of reported hit-and-runs. Edmonton police said the victim was armed with edged weapons. A day earlier, RCMP officers in Cold Lake fatally shot a male suspect believed to have a gun while attending a domestic complaint.
