2 people shot by police while allegedly fleeing scene in downtown Calgary

A 21-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were shot by a Calgary Police Service officer on Saturday.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is currently investigating the situation and issued a release detailing what they believe to have occurred just after 2:45 pm on October 19.

According to the ASIRT release, the man had been driving a black 2008 Toyota Corolla northbound on 6th Street SW with the female as a passenger. At the same time, a scheduled military parade had been occurring in downtown Calgary, causing several streets to be barricaded.

The man drove past police barricades as he turned eastbound onto 8th Avenue SW, ASIRT states. It was there that CPS mountain bike patrol officer attempted to direct the driver away from 8th Avenue, though the vehicle allegedly drove around the officer and into the path of the parade.

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Upon approaching additional police officers, the vehicle backed up “in what was perceived as an attempt to turn around,” the release states, driving north through a cycling lane, onto a sidewalk, and eventually hitting a building on 8th Avenue.

The mountain bike officer and two other officers attempted to stop the car, though the driver allegedly backed up and drove westbound in the direction of where two other CPS members were standing, at which time an officer opened fire on the driver, firing three shots.

The car only came to a stop once it collided with a van on 6th Avenue SW, with the driver and the female passenger both attempting to flee on foot following the collision, the release states. Both were arrested at the scene, with the Toyota Corolla being determined by police to be a stolen vehicle with a stolen license plate.

The woman suffered a gunshot wound to her left thigh while the male driver was shot in the left forearm. Both were treated in hospital though it was noted that neither injuries were considered to be life-threatening.

“CPS maintains responsibility for the investigation and any charges related to the conduct of the driver and passenger of the stolen vehicle,” states the release.

“ASIRT’s investigation will focus on an assessment of the lawfulness of the use of force by police during the officer-involved shooting.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has audio or video recordings of the area at the time, is asked to contact ASIRT at 403-592-4306.