The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has concluded that five RCMP officers were justified in shooting and killing a 27-year-old man on Highway 2 near Leduc, Alberta, in May 2020.
The incident began when the man, who was wanted for firing at police officers and a civilian in Blackfalds, was spotted driving a black BMW on the QEII. Officers followed the man’s vehicle until he sped up to 180 km/h and crossed the median to drive north in the southbound lanes.
The man’s vehicle was eventually stopped by a spike belt, and he exited the vehicle holding a long gun. He pointed the gun at one of the officers, and the officers fired a total of 22 shots. Seven of the shots struck the man, who died at the scene.
An autopsy determined that the man died from multiple gunshot wounds and had consumed cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol.
ASIRT found that the officers’ actions were reasonable and proportionate. The officers were justified in using deadly force because the man posed a serious threat to their lives and the lives of others.
The man’s previous actions in Blackfalds, as well as his pointing a firearm at the officer, “presented a clear danger,” ASIRT said. “There was ample information for officers to conclude that (he) was a serious risk to the public. They were provided information that he had shot at officers and a civilian and had fled,” ASIRT said.
“When the (man) exited his vehicle with a firearm, their duty to protect the lives of fellow police officers was also engaged. Their reaction to the (man), who had already fired at other officers, was reasonable,” ASIRT found.
ASIRT also found that the officers’ actions were proportionate and reasonable.
“In that situation, there is no doubt that it was also reasonable for them to fire at the (man) to stop the serious threat he posed. It was also necessary for the subject officers to fire at (him) when they did,” ASIRT determined.
“The subject officers’ actions were reasonable in this extreme situation, and the defences available under s. 25 and s. 34 of the Criminal Code are likely to apply. As a result, there are not reasonable grounds to believe that an offence was committed,” ASIRT concluded.
