Woman killed in officer shooting was carrying knife
Police used projectile launcher, Taser, and rifle during June 21 confrontation on Deerfoot Trail. ASIRT investigating.
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An officer-involved shooting on Deerfoot Trail on June 21 resulted in a woman's death after a confrontation that began with reports of erratic driving.
Calgary police were first called about a dangerous driver near Deerfoot Meadows shopping centre around 5:30 p.m. Officers located an SUV travelling northbound on Deerfoot Trail between Memorial Drive and 16th Avenue N.E. and used their vehicles to stop it in the far left lane. Officers then blocked northbound and southbound traffic on 16th Avenue as the driver, believed to be carrying a knife, remained in the vehicle.
After approximately 20 minutes, officers broke the front passenger-side window and deployed pepper spray. The woman exited the vehicle and moved toward officers. "During the interaction that followed, officers used a projectile launcher and a conducted energy weapon, commonly known as a Taser. One officer also fired a police rifle," the Police Review Commission said in a release on Friday.
Officers recovered a knife at the scene. Police and emergency medical crews provided medical care before paramedics transported the woman to hospital in life-threatening condition. She later died.
The Police Review Commission directed the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) to investigate this incident as a Level 1 matter, which includes incidents involving serious injury or death, or serious or sensitive allegations about an officer's actions. The investigation will examine the actions of police officers, including the force used during the incident.