KEHEWIN – The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has released preliminary information in its investigation into the discharging of police firearms that resulted in a 22-year-old man from Kehewin Cree Nation being airlifted to hospital on March 9.
ASIRT was directed to begin an investigation into the circumstances of the incident on the night the shootings occurred.
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On the night of March 9, Bonnyville RCMP officers went to a residence on Kehewin Cree Nation to investigate an alleged homicide that had been reported to police.
While investigating, officers attended a residence where they believed a suspect was inside of and proceeded to contain the area, confirmed ASIRT in a media release.
“The man then came out of the residence, holding a firearm,” ASIRT states.
“At approximately 10:30 p.m., a confrontation between the man and the officers occurred, during which two officers discharged their firearms.”
The male suspect was struck multiple times, confirms the police watchdog organization.
Officers then called for medical assistance and provided first aid before handing over care to EMS.
The man was transported by ground to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. He was later transported to an Edmonton area hospital by air ambulance where he remains in hospital in stable condition, according to ASIRT.
“A firearm was located outside the residence near where the man had been,” says ASIRT.
ASIRT’s investigation will continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the uses of force by officers in this incident.
However, no additional information is anticipated to be released, according to the organization.
As part of the ongoing investigation, ASIRT is continuing efforts to identify people who may have witnessed aspects of the confrontation between the man and police.
ASIRT is asking anyone who may have been in the area and may have witnessed these events and/or may have video to contact investigators at 780-644-1483.
RCMP will retain the investigation of the death of the 54-year-old male victim of the alleged homicide, who was from Kehewin Cree Nation. It was the investigation into the death of the 54-year-old that lead RCMP members to search for the 22-year-old who had been identified as a suspect.
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.”
