Man dies after being shot by police in hours-long saga that started at Calgary gym
CBC News | Posted: August 31, 2018 12:22 PM | Last Updated: August 31, 2018
Incident began at 10 p.m. Thursday and culminated in police using deadly force at 3:45 a.m. Friday
A man who was critically injured in an officer-involved shooting early Friday morning in Calgary's Redstone neighbourhood has died, police say.
Police were called to a gym in the 2600 block of Country Hills Boulevard N.E. at 10 p.m. after a report that at a man who had been in an altercation was circling the building in his vehicle and staff were concerned for their safety.
"Officers followed the man from a distance as he drove dangerously throughout Redstone and Skyview, placing the public at risk before stopping at his residence in Redstone," police said in a release.
The man then went inside his home and seemed to calm down, but he refused to surrender. Believing he could be having a mental health crisis, and that forcing an arrest could lead to a violent confrontation, police decided to disengage for the night. The man's car was towed away to prevent him from leaving again.
Police left the residence at 2:20 a.m., but officers were later called back to investigate a complaint about loud music coming from the house.
Police say officers patrolling the area found the man near the intersection of Redstone Drive and Redstone Street N.E. at about 3:45 a.m.
"The situation escalated and officers deployed less-lethal ARWEN rounds and fired a service pistol at the man," police said.
Police also said knives were recovered at the scene.
The man was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition where he later died.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is now investigating and the Calgary Police Service said it will not be releasing any further information.
The two officers involved have been with the force for six and eight years.
They were not injured, and are on 30-day administrative leaves, which is standard practice when lethal force is used.
Police said the incident was the first time the ARWEN less-lethal launcher has been used by a front-line officer since the weapons were added to their arsenal this summer. The launchers have been used by CPS tactical teams since 2008.
Sukanya Sarkar, who has lived in the district for four years, says she didn't realize anything unusual had happened until she woke up at 5 a.m.
"This morning I just saw so many police cars in front of my house," she said. "I'm a little nervous right now because I live with my child here."
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