Grande Prairie, Alberta (Rajeev Sharma): A man was shot and killed by police in northwestern Alberta late Friday night after he allegedly pulled a firearm on officers during an encounter following an erratic chase, the RCMP confirmed Saturday.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which oversees police conduct in the province, has launched an investigation into the incident. CBC News has reached out to ASIRT for independent verification.
According to RCMP, the incident began shortly before midnight on a rural road near Grande Prairie. Officers on patrol noticed a vehicle being driven erratically and attempted to stop it. The driver fled but eventually became stuck in the mud, prompting officers to approach the vehicle.
During the confrontation, the man allegedly produced a firearm, prompting at least one officer to open fire. However, police have not provided specific details about the sequence of events or how the gun was presented.
A spokesperson for STARS Air Ambulance confirmed that a crew was initially dispatched to the area but was stood down before take-off.
Emergency Medical Services pronounced the man dead at the scene. No injuries were reported among the responding officers.
RCMP stated that ASIRT was notified as per protocol, given that the incident involved a fatal police shooting. ASIRT investigates incidents involving serious injury or death in police interactions, as well as complex allegations of police misconduct.
In addition to the ASIRT investigation, RCMP has initiated its own internal review. The review will assess officer conduct, adherence to policy, training protocols, and the duty status of those involved to provide a comprehensive understanding of the incident.
The identity of the deceased has not been publicly released, and further details are expected as the investigations progress.
