ASIRT finds no wrongdoing by officers involved in 2024 shooting in Leduc

LEDUC -- ASIRT has released their report into a fatal police involved shooting from nearly two years ago in Leduc.

The incident from June 20, 2024, involved a 63-year-old Leduc County resident who was shot and killed by tactical officers with the Edmonton Police Service. The following is taken from the official report released by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team on Feb. 18, 2026, following the completion of their independent investigation into the matter:

"On June 20, 2024, the Leduc RCMP received a call from CW2 (civilian witness #2, described as the man's ex-girlfriend) reporting that AP (affected person) had told her he was suicidal and had consumed alcohol along with prescription medication. She also advised that AP had previously attempted suicide and owned a pellet pistol. Shortly thereafter, CW1 (civilian witness #1, described as the man's mother) contacted the RCMP and provided similar information regarding AP's mental state and intentions. RCMP officers attended AP's residence, which was unoccupied, and located a suicide note addressed to CW2. To determine AP's whereabouts, officers initiated a GPS "ping" of his mobile phone. While attempting to locate him, the RCMP received information that a vehicle had rammed several police cars at the Leduc detachment before fleeing the scene.

The RCMP Operational Command Centre then called AP’s cellphone. When AP answered, he stated that he was at the detachment with a 9mm pistol. He admitted to ramming multiple police vehicles and said he intended to provoke officers into shooting him—commonly referred to as "suicide by cop". AP also sent text messages to CW2 conveying the same intention. The GPS ping indicated that AP remained nearby in Leduc. An RCMP crisis negotiator contacted him repeatedly. During these calls, AP was angry and openly suicidal. He insisted he was armed with a 9mm pistol and stated that he wanted police to kill him. Although he claimed he did not wish to harm officers, he said he would fire at them. The RCMP requested assistance from the EPS Tactical Unit and Air 1. Air 1 located AP sitting in his truck and maintained surveillance while officers deployed spike belts around the area.

AP eventually drove away and ran over one of the spike belts. After travelling a short distance on deflated tires, he brought his truck to a stop. Two EPS tactical trucks stopped close behind him. Air 1 video showed AP exiting the driver's side door and quickly moving toward the rear of his truck. His right arm was extended horizontally, holding an object pointed directly at one of the tactical trucks. The two subject officers fired their carbines through their windshield. AP fell to the ground, and an object resembling a pistol fell from his hand, landing within his immediate reach. Because the apparent pistol remained beside AP's hand, EPS Tactical officers did not approach him.

Instead, they deployed two 40mm less-lethal rounds in an effort to elicit a response and assess whether it was safe to move closer. The proximity of the apparent pistol continued to pose a safety risk. Officers therefore requested an EPS Canine Unit to safely pull AP away from the weapon so that medical aid could be provided. An EPS canine officer arrived shortly thereafter. The police dog dragged AP away from the apparent pistol, allowing officers to approach. Medical assistance was administered immediately; however, AP was already deceased."

The ASIRT report states that an autopsy determined that the immediate cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest. The post-mortem examination identified injuries from three gunshot wounds and multiple shrapnel-like bullet-fragment strikes. Toxicological analysis of post-mortem blood detected alcohol at very high levels, as well as cocaine, bupropion, and amlodipine, indicating these substances had been ingested some time before death. The following is the conclusion stated in the ASIRT report:

"After a thorough, independent, and objective investigation into the conduct of the subject officers, it is my opinion that they (the EPS officers) were lawfully placed and acting properly in the execution of their duties. There is no evidence to support any belief that they engaged in any unlawful or unreasonable conduct that would give rise to an offence. While the death of AP is unfortunate, the force used by the officers was justifiable in the circumstances."