Man shot by police in Whitehorse was a former Air North employee

CBC
·2 min read
Air North's cargo hangar in Whitehorse, where an RCMP officer shot and killed a man who was wielding a gun last Thursday. (Mike Rudyk/CBC - image credit)
Air North's cargo hangar in Whitehorse, where an RCMP officer shot and killed a man who was wielding a gun last Thursday. (Mike Rudyk/CBC - image credit)

Yukon RCMP confirmed Monday that one of its officers shot a man who was threatening Air North employees with a gun last Thursday.

Few other details were released during a news conference Monday morning in Whitehorse.

Reporters heard that the man, who was living in Alberta, was a former employee of Air North and knew many of the employees present at the Air North cargo complex.

Scott Sheppard, commanding officer of the Yukon RCMP, said the man's family asked that the deceased not be named.

Speaking at the press conference, Sheppard said that police received a report about a male with a gun at the Air North cargo office at 12:37 p.m. on Nov. 24. The man threatened Air North employees and "an altercation occurred."

Sheppard described the gun the man was carrying as a non-restricted long gun.

ASIRT
ASIRT

RCMP arrived shortly thereafter and at around 12:50 p.m. Sheppard said "one officer discharged his service firearm."

Officers then began first aid and the man was transported to the Whitehorse hospital and pronounced dead around 1:30 p.m.

In press release Monday afternoon, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which is investigating the incident, said that when RCMP arrived on scene, the man was carrying the gun and walking toward officers.

Officers told the man to stop and drop the weapon. He continued to walk toward police. That's when the officer shot and the man fell to the ground, ASIRT said.

Investigations underway

Sheppard said police could only provide limited details because of the multiple investigations taking place — by Yukon RCMP, ASIRT and Transport Canada.

Transport Canada is investigating the incident to learn more about how the man gained access to Air North's secured compound.

Mike Rudyk/CBC
Mike Rudyk/CBC

Yukon RCMP are working with police in Alberta and Saskatchewan to learn more about the deceased male, including timelines about his movements leading up to his death.

Sheppard noted that police in Yukon had had "limited interaction" with the man.

An autopsy for the deceased is scheduled for Nov. 30, in Abbotsford, B.C.

Sheppard said that no employees on scene, members of the public or RCMP were seriously physically injured.

He said there is no further risk to the public.

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