On July 19, a serious incident caught the attention of many in Alberta. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) was called to investigate a fatal shooting involving officers from the Grande Prairie RCMP.

The day before, on July 18 at 10:36 p.m., a community peace officer was on patrol when he noticed a vehicle driving erratically. This vehicle sped away and ran a red light, prompting the officer to announce the situation over the radio.

By 11:05 p.m., another officer attempted to stop the same vehicle. However, the driver didn't comply and continued to speed away. Shortly after,, at 11:26 p.m., an RCMP officer spotted the vehicle near their detachment and began pursuing it. The chase continued out of the city limits.

The pursuit ended in a rural area where the driver exited the vehicle. During an interaction between the driver and officers, something alarming happened: the driver produced what appeared to be a firearm. In response, the officers discharged their weapons, and sadly, the individual was struck.

First aid was provided immediately, but emergency medical services (EMS) declared the individual deceased at the scene. ASIRT is now conducting a thorough investigation into this incident, focusing on the use of force.

This situation raises important questions about police practices and community safety. Although the details are still unfolding, ASIRT's objective is to conduct a fair and independent investigation into what transpired. Stay tuned for more updates.