Woman killed by officers had replica handgun
Police watchdog called to investigate after officers open fire in Beltline hotel
Alberta's police watchdog says two Calgary officers fatally shot a 20-year-old woman in a city hotel after she appeared with a firearm, later identified as a “replica handgun pellet pistol.”
The incident took place around 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the Nuvo Hotel, at 827 12th Ave. S.W., after police were called to the Beltline hotel for reports of a weapon.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which probes instances of serious injury or death involving police, was directed to investigate on Wednesday and released some details Thursday about how events unfolded.
ASIRT said responding officers went to the third floor of the hotel to respond to a call placed by a woman, believed to be the victim, who “sounded distressed” and threatened self-harm.
A woman appeared in the doorway when police approached the room.
She quickly went back inside before returning with what appeared to be a black handgun, ASIRT determined after reviewing footage from a body-worn camera.
It is unclear what happened next. “Further details regarding what the woman may have done with the handgun or what occurred thereafter are being withheld pending additional possible interviews,” ASIRT said in a statement.
“However, shortly thereafter, two officers discharged their service pistols. The woman was struck and fell back into the room.”
Officers determined she was dead after they entered the room, which is where the replica handgun was recovered.
No officers were injured. Calgary Police Service Chief Mark Neufeld said the situation was “extremely dynamic” and “unfolded quickly.”
He said officers were given little information when responding to the call but believed a handgun was involved.
“When they arrived there, they purposely did not go up to or into that room. They were very concerned about the potential for violence if they were to do that,” said Neufeld, adding there were less-lethal options available.
“The tactics that were put in place to try to manage this safely and get this to a place through empathetic, compassionate, reassuring communication — those things were in place and, at a point, they didn't work any longer.”
Neufeld said he was unable to offer many details because the ASIRT investigation is ongoing.
The Calgary Police Service is fully co-operating with the watchdog's probe, he added.
“Based on my understanding and knowledge of the investigation, I'm confident the investigation will ultimately demonstrate our officers conducted themselves appropriately, reacting in the best interests of public safety,” said Neufeld.