Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan's police watchdog set to investigate fatal police shooting on Red Earth Cree Nation

Saskatchewan’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is set to investigate an incident on Red Earth Cree Nation that left a 25-year-old man dead and an RCMP officer injured.

RCMP say 25-year-old man is dead after being shot by police on Tuesday morning

A closeup image shows a shoulder and a badge that says RCMP GRC Police.
RCMP have called in Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) after an officer was injured and a 25-year-old man was killed by gunfire. (Travis Golby/CBC)

Saskatchewan's police watchdog is set to investigate an incident on Red Earth Cree Nation that left a 25-year-old man dead and an RCMP officer injured.

RCMP said they were called to the community northeast of Carrot River, Sask., at about 3:40 a.m. CST after receiving a report of a gunshot.

Officers immediately responded to the scene and arrested two people, according to a RCMP news release. 

When officers found a third suspect nearby, RCMP say their vehicles were shot at. Then police returned fire.

RCMP said one of its officers and the 25-year-old man were injured.

The 25-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS shortly after, while the officer's injuries are considered non-life threatening.

Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has been called in to investigate the RCMP's interactions with the man and as well as the circumstances of his death. 

A review of news releases indicates this is the 12th time SIRT has launched an investigation since it began operations at the start of this year.

Clarifications

  • A previous version of this story indicated that there was a shootout. This was based on the initial RCMP release. An update from the Serious Incident Response Team said police re-positioned after being shot at and located the man, who was then shot and killed by one RCMP officer.
    Dec 22, 2023 11:17 AM CT