SIRT says an RCMP officer fired a service carbine, striking the 25-year-old man, during a “confrontation.” It also said it seized a shotgun from the incident scene.
The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team confirmed that a 25-year-old man was fatally shot by an RCMP member during what it called a “confrontation” on Red Earth Cree Nation.
SIRT, the independent, civilian-led agency that investigates all serious incidents involving police, is investigating the Dec. 19 fatal shooting.
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RCMP, in a news release following the incident, said members from Carrot River and Nipawin, along with the Provincial Protective Services Branch, responded to multiple reports of gunfire on Red Earth Cree Nation on Tuesday around 3:40 a.m.
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Arriving officers took two people into custody. SIRT said police continued to search for a man who was the subject of the calls, and saw a third person, who was identified as a 25-year-old man.
“As police located this individual, a firearm was discharged, striking the driver’s side window area of one RCMP vehicle, causing non-life-threatening injuries to the driver,” SIRT said in the release.
In the ensuing moments, “a confrontation occurred between the man and police during which one member of the RCMP discharged their service carbine, striking the man,” according to SIRT.
Officers administered First Aid to the man until paramedics arrived. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
RCMP notified SIRT about the fatal shooting around 7:15 a.m. A team of five SIRT investigators and its civilian executive director were dispatched to begin the investigation. A community liaison has also been appointed.
SIRT said a shotgun was recovered from the scene and has been seized as an exhibit.
SIRT’s investigation will look at the police’s conduct during the incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man’s death, while RCMP will continue the investigation into the initial incident.
According to SIRT, no further information will be released at this time. A final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation’s conclusion.
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