On Dec. 7, 2019, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) was directed to investigate the circumstances surrounding an RCMP officer-involved shooting in Cochrane, Alberta, that resulted in the death of a 28-year-old man.

On Dec. 6, 2019, Cochrane RCMP and the Calgary Police Service received information from two separate individuals raising significant concerns about the behaviour and recent messages sent by the 28-year-old man. Police were also advised that the man, currently bound by a condition prohibiting him from being in possession of firearms, had several firearms in his possession within the residence.

Based on the information provided, the decision was made to attend the residence, to arrest the man for breach of his release conditions and remove access to the firearms. Shortly after 7 p.m., the officers  arrived  at the home, which is located in a populated residential area in northwest Cochrane. The man, who was armed with a firearm and the sole occupant of the residence, refused to surrender. The home was contained and the RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT) responded to the location. RCMP successfully applied for a warrant to enter the home to arrest the man.

Telephone contact with the man was established, but attempts over the next several hours to negotiate his surrender failed. At one point, an RCMP armoured vehicle pulled up to the rear of the residence, at the overhead vehicle door to the attached garage. Shortly thereafter, approximately five to six shots were believed to have been fired from inside the garage, through the solid garage vehicle door, in what would have been in the general direction of the armoured vehicle.

Ultimately, in the early morning hours, after attempting various forms of intervention, ERT officers deployed a chemical agent into the residence. Moments later, at approximately 1:40 a.m., the man exited the residence and a confrontation occurred between officers and the man, which resulted in an officer discharging his firearm. The man was struck and fell to the ground. Emergency medical aid was provided on scene, and the man was transported by ambulance to hospital, but did not survive.

A loaded .22 calibre semi-automatic rifle was recovered from the snow near where the man fell.

The .22 calibre semi-automatic rifle that was recovered:

Initial examination at the scene revealed what appeared to be bullet holes in the overhead vehicle door of the attached garage, and seven spent shell casings were recovered from inside the attached garage. Six bullet holes were identified on the garage of a nearby residence. A search of the residence led to the recovery of two other guns and additional ammunition.

ASIRT’s investigation, which will focus on what led up to the officer-involved shooting, continues. It will include additional interviews with witnesses. In order to preserve the integrity of the investigation, no further information will be released at this time.

ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.