Alberta Serious Incident Response Team : RCMP Fatally Shoot Man with Gun on Highway Near Leduc: ASIRT – Edmonton

An Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigation into an RCMP shooting on Highway 2 near Leduc, Alta., in May 2020 that resulted in the death of a 27-year-old man has concluded that there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an offence was committed.

The incident, which took place on May 6, 2020, involved five officers who fired their service weapons at a male suspect. The officers were responding to reports of a black BMW driven by a man who had allegedly fired a gun at police officers and a civilian in Blackfalds.

According to a statement released by the RCMP, officers responded to a firearms complaint at a residence where shots were fired towards their vehicles. A woman who was not related to the incident was shot and sustained serious injuries.

The male suspect then fled the scene, heading north on the QEII highway. An officer spotted the suspect vehicle near Ponoka and began following him in an unmarked police vehicle. The suspect accelerated to 180 km/h upon noticing marked RCMP vehicles at a highway overpass.

Following a spike belt deployment, the suspect lost control of his vehicle and crossed the median to drive north in the southbound lanes. He eventually came to a stop near the exit ramp lane in Leduc, where multiple officers positioned themselves to confront him.

As the suspect exited his vehicle holding a long gun, he aimed it at one of the officers. Gunfire ensued, with the suspect firing at the officers before dropping the weapon and attempting to walk away. The officers, in turn, fired their weapons in response.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect sustained seven gunshot wounds and had consumed cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol. The autopsy determined that the cause of death was attributed to multiple gunshot wounds.

ASIRT Findings

ASIRT concluded that the officers’ actions were proportionate and reasonable given the circumstances. The watchdog found that the officers were faced with a clear danger posed by the suspect’s previous actions and his armed confrontation with law enforcement.

ASIRT stated, “There was ample information for officers to conclude that the suspect was a serious risk to the public. When he exited his vehicle with a firearm, their duty to protect the lives of fellow police officers was also engaged. Their reaction to the suspect, who had already fired at other officers, was reasonable.”

The investigation further determined that the officers’ use of force was necessary to stop the threat posed by the suspect and that their actions were in line with the Criminal Code. ASIRT found no reasonable grounds to believe that an offence was committed by the officers.

Overall, ASIRT concluded that the officers’ actions were reasonable in the face of an extreme situation, and the defences available under the Criminal Code likely apply. The police watchdog affirmed that the officers’ response was necessary to address the serious threat posed by the suspect.

As the investigation into the RCMP shooting near Leduc comes to a close, ASIRT’s findings shed light on the challenging circumstances faced by law enforcement officers in high-stress situations.