ASIRT concludes investigation into Vermilion Hospital shooting

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has completed an investigation into a non-fatal RCMP officer-involved shooting in Vermilion.

On March 1, 2023, the affected person (AP), a male from Lloydminster called 911 because he was anxious and paranoid. He was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and brought to the Vermilion Health Centre (VHC).

Just after 10 p.m. that night, the AP re-entered the hospital after having a smoke outside, still accompanied by the RCMP officer. The AP still had a cigarette in his mouth when a civilian witness told him he could not come in with a lit cigarette, placing her hand on his shoulder.  The AP pushed her hand away and he threw the cigarette into the entryway.

He then walked to a fire extinguisher cabinet and began opening it. The RCMP officer attempted to close the cabinet, but the AP was able to take the large metal fire extinguisher out. He backed up a few steps and appeared to put it down before picking it up again. The officer told him throughout the incident to put the extinguisher down.

The AP moved quickly toward the RCMP officer, who drew his handgun. 

“The AP hit the SO (RCMP officer) with the fire extinguisher in a slow swing or push at 10:04 p.m.,” read the ASIRT report on the incident. 

A civilian was still nearby during the altercation and the officer pushed the AP back. He then raised the fire extinguisher again, pushing at the officer’s head.

The RCMP officer managed to deflect the fire extinguisher taking steps back with his handgun still raised. The AP again took aim at the officer’s head.

The officer managed to again deflect the fire extinguisher before the AP moved in for another attempt. 

The RCMP officer fired his handgun. The fire extinguisher missed the officer’s head and he fired his handgun again. 

“The AP fell to the ground to the left of the SO (RCMP officer). Witnesses described hearing three shots in a short amount of time. Just before the AP fell, the VHC camera angle obscured the SO’s handgun such that a third shot during this time would not have been visible. After the AP fell to the ground, the SO’s handgun was visible and no shots were fired,” read the report.

Additional officers arrived at the scene. Audio captured at the scene by the first witness officer (WO1) captured an officer saying, “Give me your other hand” twice. 

“Officers handcuffed the AP at 10:07 p.m. The AP said, “I want to die” and then “shoot me again” at this time, as captured on WO1’s audio recordings,” stated the report.

Medical staff began to treat the AP, he was airlifted to an Edmonton hospital for further treatment. 

Over a month after the event on April 21, 2023, ASIRT investigators interviewed the AP.

“The AP said he had consumed alcohol and an amount of cocaine that he described as “too much” on the day of the incident. He admitted to hallucinations and delusions throughout the incident. While at the VHC, he came to believe his wife and kids were also there and someone was going to do something bad to them. After he came back from a cigarette, he grabbed a fire extinguisher to protect himself. The AP said he was not trying to swing it at the SO (RCMP officer) but instead was trying to keep the SO away because of how close he was to him,” stated the report.

His medical records were released showing injuries to his bladder, pancreas, colon, diaphragm, kidney, chest cavity, small intestine, stomach with median nerve injury, and one rib. The AP was in intensive care after he arrived and had many surgeries.

A statement was also taken from the RCMP officer involved in the incident.

The officer described going back inside following the AP’s cigarette where he then grabbed a fire extinguisher from a cabinet and began trying to hit the officer with it. The officer told him to drop it and the AP responded by telling him to shoot him. The officer then drew his handgun.

“The SO was aware of other people around him, including CW4 (civilian witness) so he tried to manoeuvre to reduce the risk of shooting someone else. The AP tried to hit him with the fire extinguisher again and told him to shoot him again. The SO feared the AP would kill or disarm him. When the AP went to try to strike him again, the SO fired three shots at the AP,” stated the ASIRT report.

Investigators seized the officer’s firearm to have it analyzed by an Edmonton Police Service analyst. Investigators also attended the scene and obtained police radio communications as part of the investigation.

They ultimately concluded the officer’s actions fall within the defence provided in section 34 of the criminal code, which outlines the use or threat of force finding no reasonable ground to believe an offence was committed. The report states there was little else the officer could do in this situation besides defending himself. 

Read more: Man air lifted to Edmonton after altercation with cop at Vermilion Hospital