Man killed in police-involved shooting in Sipekne’katik, SiRT investigating

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

Nova Scotia’s police watchdog says it is investigating a shooting involving the RCMP that led to the death of a man on Sipekne’katik First Nation.

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) says on Tuesday morning, officers with the Sipekne’katik RCMP responded to reports of a disturbance at a home.

“An adult male was reported as having a firearm and threatened others before leaving in a car,” reads a media release from SiRT. “Officers located the male and were able to deflate the vehicle’s tires with a spike belt. At this time, the vehicle left the road near an intersection with Highway 202.”

The watchdog does not say what happened after the vehicle left the roadway, only saying police then attempted “nonlethal” options before multiple shots were fired by officers.

“Life saving measures were provided by officers and paramedics. The male was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the release says.

The watchdog is responsible for investigating all matters involving police and serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence.

In a seperate news release, the RCMP says the incident was the same one that prompted an emergency alert to people in Hants and Colchester counties on Tuesday, warning residents of an armed man in a vehicle.

The RCMP statement does not provide any further information on what transpired in the time between the vehicle leaving the roadway and the man being shot, only saying shots were fired and authorities attempted resuscitation.