ETOWNCANUCK
05-12-2014, 02:09 AM
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/dead+police+officer+injured+after+several+shots+fi red+south/9828918/story.html
EDMONTON - A man was killed and an Edmonton police officer was injured Sunday evening after gunfire erupted while officers with the tactical unit were executing a warrant in south Edmonton.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. near 149A Street and 53rd Avenue, outside the Brander Gardens townhouses in Riverbend.
At a midnight press conference at police headquarters, police chief Rod Knecht said officers with the police tactical unit were involved in “surveillance of a person of interest” as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
During the arrest, several shots were exchanged between the person of interest and the tactical team, Knecht said.
The man was fatally injured at the scene, and a member of the tactical unit suffered a single gunshot wound to the leg. The injury is considered non-life-threatening, Knecht said.
“It’s shocking … It’s the call you never want to get,” Knecht said.
The injured officer is a man in his 30s with eight years of service.
Knecht said he met with the injured officer and his family at the hospital Sunday evening. The officer was undergoing a series of tests and was coherent but heavily sedated for pain.
“Our member is doing well, and that’s a good thing, but these are tragic circumstances for everybody and a very difficult situation,” Knecht said, adding that such an incident hits especially close to home on Mother’s Day.
The age of the deceased man is not yet known.
Witness Shawn Dunington described hearing nine shots fired, followed by “angry shouting,” then another eight shots.
“I started dialling 911,” he said. “It all happened very fast.”
Mike Humbler said he was in his apartment when he heard close to 10 shots fired.
“I thought they were fireworks going off. Then there was silence, then the pop again,” he said.
“I’ve never heard so many gunshots in my life,” said another witness.
The shooting comes days after three RCMP officers were injured in St. Paul, a town located 200 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
Knecht said such violence is happening “all too frequently.”
In a statement issued early Monday, Justice Minister Jonathan Denis offered prayers to the injured officer and his family.
“For the second time within a few days, a member of Alberta’s law enforcement team was seriously injured on the job. This serves as another stark reminder of the dangers our police and peace officers face daily,” the statement read.
On Sunday evening, numerous onlookers gathered near the scene, a grassy area behind the Brander Gardens townhouses cordoned off with yellow police tape. A paved path runs through the area.
A body that appeared to be handcuffed lay on the grass next to a black SUV. Two other police vehicles were also parked on the grass.
Knecht said it is standard police procedure to use handcuffs in such a situation “to make sure the individual isn’t going to cause harm to anybody else.”
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team will be taking over the investigation. ASIRT investigates all officer involved shootings.
cklingbeil@edmontonjournal.com
EDMONTON - A man was killed and an Edmonton police officer was injured Sunday evening after gunfire erupted while officers with the tactical unit were executing a warrant in south Edmonton.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. near 149A Street and 53rd Avenue, outside the Brander Gardens townhouses in Riverbend.
At a midnight press conference at police headquarters, police chief Rod Knecht said officers with the police tactical unit were involved in “surveillance of a person of interest” as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
During the arrest, several shots were exchanged between the person of interest and the tactical team, Knecht said.
The man was fatally injured at the scene, and a member of the tactical unit suffered a single gunshot wound to the leg. The injury is considered non-life-threatening, Knecht said.
“It’s shocking … It’s the call you never want to get,” Knecht said.
The injured officer is a man in his 30s with eight years of service.
Knecht said he met with the injured officer and his family at the hospital Sunday evening. The officer was undergoing a series of tests and was coherent but heavily sedated for pain.
“Our member is doing well, and that’s a good thing, but these are tragic circumstances for everybody and a very difficult situation,” Knecht said, adding that such an incident hits especially close to home on Mother’s Day.
The age of the deceased man is not yet known.
Witness Shawn Dunington described hearing nine shots fired, followed by “angry shouting,” then another eight shots.
“I started dialling 911,” he said. “It all happened very fast.”
Mike Humbler said he was in his apartment when he heard close to 10 shots fired.
“I thought they were fireworks going off. Then there was silence, then the pop again,” he said.
“I’ve never heard so many gunshots in my life,” said another witness.
The shooting comes days after three RCMP officers were injured in St. Paul, a town located 200 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
Knecht said such violence is happening “all too frequently.”
In a statement issued early Monday, Justice Minister Jonathan Denis offered prayers to the injured officer and his family.
“For the second time within a few days, a member of Alberta’s law enforcement team was seriously injured on the job. This serves as another stark reminder of the dangers our police and peace officers face daily,” the statement read.
On Sunday evening, numerous onlookers gathered near the scene, a grassy area behind the Brander Gardens townhouses cordoned off with yellow police tape. A paved path runs through the area.
A body that appeared to be handcuffed lay on the grass next to a black SUV. Two other police vehicles were also parked on the grass.
Knecht said it is standard police procedure to use handcuffs in such a situation “to make sure the individual isn’t going to cause harm to anybody else.”
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team will be taking over the investigation. ASIRT investigates all officer involved shootings.
cklingbeil@edmontonjournal.com