Edmonton officer cleared by ASIRT in wellness check killing

CTV News

2 days ago

Edmonton police officers shot and killed a woman in an apartment building in the area of 18 Avenue and 32 Street on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (Brandon Lynch/CTV News Edmonton)
Alberta's police watchdog has cleared an Edmonton police officer in the killing of a woman during a wellness check in 2023.
On Dec. 6, 2023, officers were called to an addiction recovery centre in southeast Edmonton to perform a wellness check on a woman who was potentially suicidal.
Police went up to the woman's suite and began knocking on her door and calling out but did not receive a response.
The report, completed by Alberta's Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) on Thursday, said police breached the woman's suite as they thought she may be in medical distress.
Officers found her alone in bed where she told them to leave. While police were speaking with the woman, she said she had a gun under the covers, prompting officers to draw their firearms.
ASIRT reported that one officer pulled the covers to reveal the gun, which was later found to be a BB gun.
Firearm
The Alberta Serious Incident Response team said this firearm was found at the scene. (Supplied)
The woman made a move for it and was then simultaneously tased and shot by two officers, according to the report.
Officers began performing first aid until EMS arrived. The woman was declared dead at the scene.
An autopsy report revealed the woman had died by a gunshot wound to the upper left arm which entered her chest. The report also showed she had elevated levels of alcohol combined with several benzodiazepine-type medications in her system.
'(The officer's) use of force was proportionate, necessary and reasonable,' said ASIRT's conclusion. 'As a result, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an offence was committed.'
Family said her death was 'unnecessary'
A statement released by her parents shortly after her death said it was the result of 'a complete mishandling of the tools available to law enforcement in the application of dealing with mental health issues.'
'Had the approach been gradual and of a gentle nature, and had she fully understood the nature of the visit, I don't believe things would have escalated,' said the parents. 'The tasing should have been sufficient to incapacitate her, but nevertheless resulted in lethal force being used.'
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Brittany Ekelund