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Man killed by Cochrane RCMP had loaded semi-automatic rifle

The agency investigating the fatal police shooting in Cochrane last Saturday says the man who confronted police after a 6½-hour standoff had a loaded semi-automatic rifle.

The 28-year-old man was shot by an RCMP officer and died in Foothills hospital.

The shooting is being investigated by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which provides civilian oversight in police incidents involving serious injury or death.

The incident began Friday evening when police received two reports from individuals voicing significant concerns about the man's behaviour. It was noted that the man was prohibited from being in possession of firearms but had several at the residence, located in a populated residential area in northwest Cochrane.

Police decided to arrest the man for breach of his release conditions and to remove the firearms, ASIRT said in a release Tuesday.

When officers arrived shortly after 7 p.m., the man — who was alone and armed with a gun — refused to surrender and barricaded himself in his home.

According to ASIRT, telephone contact was established, but after several hours the negotiator was unable to convince him to exit the house.

During this time, the release says, it's believed that five to six shots were fired from inside the man's garage in the general direction of the RCMP's armoured vehicle.

"Ultimately, in the early morning hours, after attempting various forms of intervention, [the RCMP's emergency response team] deployed a chemical agent into the residence," says the release.

At approximately 1:40 a.m., the man exited the residence and a confrontation occurred between him and the officers — resulting in one officer discharging their firearm, says ASIRT.

"The man was struck and fell to the ground. Emergency medical aid was provided on scene, and the man was transported by ambulance to hospital but did not survive."

Alberta Serious Incident Response Team
Alberta Serious Incident Response Team

ASIRT initial examination

According to the release, a loaded .22-calibre semi-automatic rifle was recovered from the snow near where the man fell.

ASIRT also found what appeared to be bullet holes in the overhead vehicle door of the attached garage, as well as seven spent shell casings. A search of the residence led to the recovery of two other guns and additional ammunition.

The investigation continues, but ASIRT says there will be no further information released at this time.

The man's identity has not been released.