On June 5, at about 11:03 p.m., EPS received a call reporting an unknown man armed with a knife outside a residence on the13400 block of 107 Street in Edmonton. Several EPS units were dispatched in response to this call, and at about 11:09 p.m., an EPS patrol unit carrying two police officers was the first to arrive at the location. Upon arrival, the officers were able to speak with the original caller, who emerged from their residence to approach the police vehicle. Subsequent to that conversation, the officers began searching the area, and encountered a man in the front yard of a residence near the location of the original complaint. A confrontation occurred between the police officers and the man, during which one member of the EPS discharged his service firearm, striking the man.

EPS officers provided first aid to the man until the arrival of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). EMS assumed care of the man, and ultimately pronounced him dead at the scene of the incident. No knife was recovered from the scene of the incident.

ASIRT investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed or have video of the incident to please call 780-644-1483. While some door-to-door inquiries have already been conducted, residents of homes in the area who have not already spoken with investigators and who may have a doorbell or security cameras are encouraged, if they have not already done so, to review any video recordings and contact ASIRT investigators at the above phone number if any portion of the event was captured on video.

In light of comments circulating online, it is important for ASIRT to clarify some of its general processes and approaches as they relate to the public sharing of information, particularly during the early stages of an investigation. In the interest of transparency, at the outset of any investigation, ASIRT strives to provide the public with as much information as is reasonably possible about the nature of the incident under investigation. Incidents involving police use of force, especially lethal force, are particularly significant not only to those involved but to the public at large.

However, it is also critically important that any information ASIRT releases to the public be factually correct and, to the greatest extent possible, independently confirmed or corroborated. The amount of information that may be released in any given case is guided by the nature of the available evidence. Such information may include physical or video evidence, as well as the status of the investigation itself, including any interviews that may remain outstanding.

The primary guiding consideration when determining the nature and scope of information that may be released during the initial stage of an investigation is the need to avoid any potential negative impact upon the investigation itself, including the availability or reliability of evidence that has yet to be secured.

With all these factors in mind, as ASIRT’s investigation is underway, no further information will be released at this time.

ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.

This release is distributed by the Government of Alberta on behalf of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.