Man with rifle in Maskwacis was shot and killed by RCMP on Dec. 1, 2022. Supplied: Alberta Serious Incident Response Team
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) says it’s investigating an incident where a man from Samson Cree Nation was shot and killed by the RCMP.
Mounties said the 27-year-old was flown to hospital in critical condition following a confrontation in the community on Thursday. The ASIRT said in a news release that the man died Saturday.
In the release, the police watchdog said officers responded to a call that said a man was discharging a firearm in a rural area. The man walked towards the police vehicle while holding a rifle, pointed upwards. He then pointed the rifle in direction of police and was shot.
The RCMP have announced they are not commenting further on the incident. According to a press release the Alberta RCMP’s internal review process will also review what occurred.
Earlier this year, APTN reported on issues of drugs and gang violence in Samson Cree Nation. In September the RCMP told APTN News that in the Maskwacis area there had been 116 crimes involving firearms and 760 assaults. In October, Ashton Saddleback was sentenced to life in prison for killing his mother.
ASIRT is asking anyone who may have been in the area and may have witnessed these events, or may have video to contact investigators at 780-644-1483.
