Cochrane RCMP fatally shoot man

ASIRT investigation continues after standoff between man, officers at home

An investigation is continuing after a man was shot and killed by an officer in Cochrane this weekend.

According to Cochrane RCMP, officers were called to a man’s home on W. Gissing Road around 7 p.m. Friday for well-being concerns. The man was believed to have numerous firearms.

When police arrived the man barricaded himself inside the home, refused to co-operate with police and couldn’t be convinced by a negotiator from the Emergency Response Team to leave the home peacefully.

RCMP said “alternative means” were deployed to force the man out.

When he left the home, a confrontation occurred and, ultimately, an officer discharged a weapon and injured the man. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead en route to the hospital.

No officers or civilians were injured.

Scott Tunkin, who lives in the same cul-de-sac as the deceased, said his neighbour a few doors down phoned him around 11:30 p.m. to ask if he knew what was happening. He said police were in the alley and had taped off a portion of the area.

Around 1 a.m. he saw an officer, on his home surveillance footage, cross his lawn to take cover and just before 2 a.m. his wife woke up to a large bang. At first she thought it was their son falling out of bed, but they now believe it was a gunshot.

After that, they saw an ambulance arrive to the scene.

“Personally, we didn’t know them but they were renters that had been there for about 18 months,” said Tunkin, who added that bylaw officers and police were called to the home often. He said there were four or five adults living in the home, at least two of which were female and two male.

When reached Saturday morning, RCMP Cpl. Laurel Scott said the incident lasted about six hours.

Scott would not elaborate on whether anyone else was inside the home with the man during the standoff. Early Saturday afternoon, investigators were still on scene. A large portion of the street was taped off and at least 20 yellow evidence markers were placed on scene where an old vacation van was parked out front.

Firefighters went in and out of the home with face masks on, but there was no official comment as to the reason why.

The Director of Law Enforcement has been notified and ASIRT is investigating.

RCMP also continue to investigate the incident and what led to the confrontation.