Alberta’s police watchdog is providing a few more details on the shooting of an alleged stabbing suspect by an Edmonton police officer on Friday evening.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) says its investigation will examine the use of force by the officer.
BACKGROUND: Edmonton stabbing suspect shot by police
ASIRT says the shooting took place near 98A Avenue and 178 Street around 7:45 p.m. They say an Edmonton police vehicle “made contact” with the suspect’s vehicle, causing it to come to a stop.
“An officer then engaged the driver, which resulted in that officer firing their service pistol at the driver, causing him non-life-threatening injuries,” ASIRT said.
The driver, who Edmonton police had previously identified as a 36-year-old man, was taken to hospital by paramedics in stable condition. There were no other injuries.
The EPS response began shortly before 7:30 p.m., after 911 calls reported a stabbing outside a bar. The suspect fled the scene in a truck before police arrived.
With police on their way to the bar, a separate 911 call at 7:32 p.m. indicated the suspect vehicle was being followed by a witness to the alleged stabbing.
“At one point, the suspect vehicle attempted to make contact with the vehicle following it,” ASIRT said.
Alberta’s police watchdog is hoping to identify witnesses of the police shooting. They are asked to call investigators at 780-644-1483.
