Alberta watchdog finds officers were justified in 2020 Entwistle, 2023 Ice District shootings

Officers involved in two shootings from 2020 and 2023 were justified in their actions and did not engage in unlawful or unreasonable conduct, according to Alberta's independent police watchdog.

The results of two Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigations were released Monday. One incident involved RCMP officers near Entwistle, Alta., west of Edmonton, while the other happened in downtown Edmonton last year. 

In the report regarding the fatal shooting involving an RCMP officer in August 2020, executive director Michael Ewenson found the shooting happened during the investigation of a domestic violence complaint.

ASIRT said a 32-year-old man got into a domestic dispute with his common-law spouse in Onion Lake, Sask. The man got into a vehicle and tried to drive away while his spouse clung to him through an open driver's side door in an attempt to stop him.

The spouse then fell off and her arm was run over. An arrest warrant was issued for the man under the guise of aggravated assault.

Armed with a Cooey .22-calibre rifle, the man drove across the Alberta border. He later posted five videos to Facebook Live where he made suicidal and homicidal comments, and talked about police pursuing him.

ASIRT said he also periodically drank from one of two alcohol bottles on his lap, and would hold or reference the rifle he was armed with, occasionally making comments about his desire to die.

"A bullet in here has my name on it," the man said in one video, according to the report. 

The man also texted his spouse after the dispute. In the texts, he apologized for his actions and said "I don't even have a reason to live anymore."

Mounties located the man's vehicle by pinging his phone as he drove west on Highway 16 toward Edmonton.

According to previous ASIRT reports, police called the man during the pursuit to de-escalate the situation, but he refused to surrender and made threats regarding the use of the rifle.

RCMP stopped the vehicle with a spike belt, flattening its front tires on the highway near Range Road 73, about 95 kilometres west of Edmonton, near Entwistle, Alta.

The man was shot by police multiple times, the report said, after he picked up his rifle and pointed it in the direction of the RCMP officer. He died at the scene.

"At autopsy it was determined that [the man] died from multiple gunshot wounds," reads the report.

"Toxicology showed that he had alcohol, methamphetamine and cocaine in his system at the time of this event."

After interviewing witnesses and analyzing the text messages, police dashcam footage and Facebook videos, ASIRT found the officers acted in accordance with section 25 of the Criminal Code, which permits them to use as much force as necessary for their jobs.

He said the man saw the officer as a lethal threat, which resulted in him pointing the rifle. The officer's reliance on using his firearm in response to this threat was "reasonably necessary," he said.

2023 Ice District shooting

ASIRT also wrapped its investigation into a non-fatal shooting near Ice District, where thousands had gathered for a watch party as the Edmonton Oilers took part in an NHL playoff game on April 29, 2023.

According to the report, a man had attended the watch party with his girlfriend. Before arriving, the man had consumed about 13 ounces of vodka and took some cocaine with his girlfriend before drinking more alcohol at the party.

At one point in the night, the pair crossed the intersection of 101st Street and 103A Avenue where a physical fight broke out between the man's girlfriend and another group of adults, resulting in stab wounds being inflicted, the report said.

Two officers standing on the west side of 101st Street were alerted by someone in the crowd about the fight going on across the street. As they sprung into action, one officer saw the man holding the knife above another person's head.

Both officers commanded the man to drop the knife at least twice, the report said.

"[The man] moved away from the person, with the knife still in his hand."

When the man ignored calls to drop the knife and proceeded to move toward police, an officer fired his service pistol twice, shooting the man in his abdomen and left arm. 

EMS personnel brought the man and two other people to hospital. One person was treated and left the hospital. Another person and the man required surgery and spent several days in hospital.

ASIRT said the main subject officer was acting lawfully to carry out his response to the man moving toward the officers while still holding the knife.

"Given this and the relatively close distance then existing between [the officers] and [the man], the fear of death or grievous bodily harm to either officer existed," he said.

"As such, the subject officer's response in using his firearm to shoot [the man] was proportionate to the threat of death or grievous bodily harm that he reasonably posed to both of them."

ASIRT investigates incidents involving Alberta's police that result in serious injury or death, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

• Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.

• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.

• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.

• This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.