Airdrie RCMP officer-involved shooting investigation complete

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has released the findings of their investigation into the February 12, 2023, officer-related shooting involving an Airdrie Mountie, east of Calgary. The report concluded that the Mountie was justified in using their firearm and shooting the individual.

According to the report, the individual whom the police officers had shot, identified as the 'Affected Person' (AP) in the report, was suicidal on February 12.

"She initially intended to drive into a semi-truck, but then decided to force police to shoot her. She did this by running at the SO [ASIRT designated one Airdrie Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer as the subject officer (SO)] with a knife in her hand. The SO was justified in responding with his firearm," the report stated in part.

The report also enumerates the specifics of what occurred on February 12. Initially, Calgary Police received a 9-1-1 call about the AP.

Timeline:

• At approximately 1:50 p.m. CPS received a 9-1-1 call about the AP. The caller was concerned that she was suicidal. RCMP officers responded to an area east of Calgary, and a CPS helicopter assisted.
• At 3:35 p.m., the witness officer (WO) located the AP in her vehicle on the side of Highway 564. The AP sped off and the WO followed. The CPS helicopter located the AP and the WO shortly after and began to record the incident

"The AP was driving extremely fast, including at speeds of over 175 km/h, and often on the wrong side of the highway. There were other vehicles on the road at that time. The AP drove through a stop sign at the intersection of Highways 564 and 9 and was briefly launched into the air due to her speed and the elevated intersection. The AP continued to drive on the wrong side of the highway," the report stated. "At Highway 21, the AP turned around and travelled back west. She then briefly went off the road and into the ditch."

• At 3:51 p.m., the SO used a tire deflation device that punctured some of the AP’s tires. The AP then came to a stop and, at 3:52 p.m., the SO stopped his marked police vehicle behind the AP.

"As the SO stopped, the AP exited her vehicle. She had a knife in her left hand and a beer in her right... The SO can be heard yelling, “Drop the knife!” on the police vehicle video. The AP took a few steps toward the SO and then began to run toward him."

– The SO’s vehicle video showed the AP with a knife in her left hand. (Photo credit to Alberta Serious Response Team)

Then, ASIRT asserts that as the AP was running and threatening to kill the police officer, the SO once again repeated for the AP to drop the knife.

"The SO moved backwards and drew a handgun and then a conductive energy weapon (CEW). The AP continued to run at the SO until she reached the rear of his police vehicle when she turned and attempted to go into the police vehicle. The SO ran back to his vehicle and used his CEW on the AP. The AP then turned and ran at the SO again."

• The AP once again uttered threats that they would kill the police officer. The SO then fired seven shots at 3:53 p.m., hitting the AP and causing her to fall to the road and drop her knife.

"The SO approached the AP and kicked away the knife. The SO began to assess the AP, and other officers arrived within one minute to provide first aid to the AP."

Knife found in ditch near the AP. (Photo credit to Alberta Serious Response Team)

• At 4:06 p.m., emergency medical services arrived and assumed care of the AP. An air ambulance was then used to transport the AP to the hospital.

"The AP had seven gunshot wounds to her chest, midsection, arms, and legs. She required surgeries and stayed in the hospital for some time."

ASIRT interviewed both the AP and SO as part of their investigation. According to a statement provided by the AP, she said that her goal was to die, but that she didn't want to hurt any police officers. The SO's statements were consistent with video evidence.

The report states that the SO was assisting on a call that evolved as time went on.

"It started as a welfare check, became a serious dangerous driving investigation, and ended with dealing with an assaultive person. The SO’s actions throughout were required or authorized by law and he acted on reasonable grounds. The SO conducted himself carefully and showed restraint at the beginning of the incident. His actions were reasonable."

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