Alberta standoff ends with Stettler shooter's suicide

A man suspected of shooting a woman while she was walking on a road near Stettler, Alta., on Monday morning killed himself after an eight-hour standoff.

The RCMP’s Emergency Response Team had surrounded a rural area near Castor after the woman was shot Monday morning.

The standoff ended just after 6 p.m. MT when it was discovered the man had shot himself.

"This is not how we wanted it to end," said RCMP Staff Sgt. Shawn Lemay.

"Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family [of the deceased.]"

Earlier Monday afternoon, Lemay told CBC News that RCMP were doing everything they could to make a peaceful arrest.

Police say they do not know yet if the woman and suspect knew each other.

The woman was transported to Foothills Hospital in Calgary just before 9 a.m., said Cam Heke, a spokesman for STARS air ambulance.

There was no immediate word on her condition.

RCMP said they were called to the scene for a complaint of a shot fired at a woman as she was walking along a roadway.

Investigators said they located a suspect, but the man fled from officers. Police were warning people to avoid the area.

Byemoor, Brownfield, Castor and Coronation schools were under lockdown for a few hours, but it has been lifted.

Theresetta Catholic school was also under lockdown.

Stettler is 79 kilometres east of Red Deer.