At about 5:34 a.m., Wood Buffalo RCMP received a complaint regarding a man in a taxi at the Fort McMurray International Airport holding a “large knife” to his own throat. Officers responded and, at about 5:48 a.m., located the man in a taxi parked on the departures level near the terminal doors. Shortly thereafter, the man exited the taxi. Available video footage confirms that when he exited the taxi, he was armed with a knife.

Officers had been speaking with the man for approximately 20 minutes when the situation escalated. Officers employed a 40-mm less-lethal impact munition and a conducted energy weapon (CEW), neither of which was effective. At approximately 6:19 a.m., an officer discharged his service weapon, striking the male and causing him to fall to the ground. A knife was recovered on scene.

Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, who were staged nearby, provided emergency care to the male and transported him to hospital. The male passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital.

ASIRT’s investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the use of lethal force. No additional information will be released.

ASIRT continues to attempt to identify those who may have witnessed aspects of the confrontation between the male and police. As such, ASIRT asks that anyone who may have been in the area and may have witnessed these events and/or may have video to please contact ASIRT investigators at 780-644-1483.

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Knife recovered from the incident scene.

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.

ASIRT

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