ASIRT clears RCMP officer in fatal Red Deer shooting that victim's father called 'assassination'

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has determined that an RCMP officer was justified in using lethal force during a fatal shooting in Red Deer on April 13, 2023.

The shooting occurred during the attempted apprehension of a man under the Mental Health Act (MHA), following reports of a violent threat.

ASIRT’s investigation, which included witness testimony, officer statements, and scene analysis, concluded that the officer acted within the law and in self-defense when he discharged his firearm at the affected person (AP), who was armed with a knife.

The incident began when the civilian witness (CW), AP’s father, called 911 to report that his son had threatened to slit his throat. CW had earlier obtained a court order for AP’s apprehension under the MHA but stated that officers had not yet arrived to execute it. Several RCMP officers, including the subject officer (SO), were dispatched to the residence.

Upon entering the basement where AP was located, officers found him lying on a mattress. AP refused to cooperate and, as SO moved in to handcuff him, AP produced a knife. SO responded by deploying his Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW), but it was ineffective. A second officer also deployed a CEW, which also failed to subdue AP.

According to ASIRT’s findings, AP then lunged at SO while still holding the knife. SO, fearing for his safety and that of his fellow officers, fired multiple shots, striking AP. Despite immediate first aid efforts, AP was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy confirmed AP sustained multiple gunshot wounds to critical organs. Witness testimony, including that of CW, confirmed that AP had been armed and that the officers had attempted to subdue him before using lethal force. CW, however, expressed anger over the incident, calling it an "assassination."

ASIRT’s analysis determined that the officer’s actions were necessary and proportionate under Section 25 of the Criminal Code, which allows police to use force when reasonably required to protect themselves or others. Given AP’s refusal to drop the weapon and the failure of non-lethal measures, ASIRT concluded that SO’s response was lawful.

“There is no evidence to support any belief that any officer engaged in unlawful or unreasonable conduct,” ASIRT Executive Director Michael Ewenson, K.C., stated in the report. “While the death of AP is unfortunate, the force used by SO was proportionate, necessary, and reasonable in all the circumstances.”