The RCMP officers responsible for shooting and killing a man in Canmore are coping with the emotional fallout after learning that the suspect’s weapon was fake, according to a spokesperson.
Patrick Webb said the two officers, one a 25-year veteran and the other with four years of service, are currently on leave.
“This is obviously a very serious, major impact on them — emotionally, psychologically and legally,” said Webb.
“To find out that it’s a replica is part of it. It certainly has impacted them.”
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is currently conducting an investigation to determine what led to Monday’s shooting.
Clifton Purvis, executive director for ASIRT, said officers stopped the man around 4:30 p.m. and he presented what looked like a gun.
“The male opened the door of the suspect vehicle and was armed with what appeared to be a 9 mm Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol,” said Purvis.
The investigation will likely go on for several months and is seeking to determine if the officers’ actions were justified, according to Purvis.
